Day 63 - Issue 36
Playback speed
READ: Luke 21:1-4 NLT
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Jesus is only a few days from his death on the cross. He knows what is going to happen and it must have been dominating his thinking. And yet he noticed a poor widow. I suspect that no one else spotted her because everything about her was unremarkable, and particularly her gift. It was such a tiny gift and most people would have thought that it was hardly worth giving. But Jesus saw it very differently. Alongside the big gifts of the rich people hers was a very, very small gift but Jesus looks to the heart of the matter. The fact is that she gave everything she could. She had, in truth, given more than anyone else.
This beautiful little story is so precious because it gives us a deep insight into how Jesus works. He looks to the heart
of things. What we are able to give will often appear small and insignificant, particularly when we put it alongside the enormous needs of our society. When you look at the number of people with addiction, or broken relationships, or sickness, it doesn’t look very impressive when you are only able to give a little help to one person. But Jesus looks at our heart. He sees our desire to serve him and he celebrates what we have done.
This story warns us never to look down on what we can do. Listening to someone in need, giving a small gift, praying for a friend, doing shopping for an elderly neighbour, supporting a charity or whatever it may be Jesus looks to us to do what we can – and he sees our heart.
QUESTION: Why is it so damaging to look down on the small things that we can do for God?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you value and bless what we are able to do, however small. Amen.
Released on 30 Mar 2021
Coming up next
Day 64 - Issue 36
READ: Luke 22:3-5 NLT 'Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted, and they...
Day 1 - Issue 37
READ: Luke 22.19-20 NLT He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper he took another cup o...
Day 2 - Issue 37
READ: Luke 23.44-46 NLT By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus sho...