Good Morning Friends,
Today at the beginning of the Advent season we contemplate a Christmas like no other as we consider the trap of some rich fools and the surprising freedom of a poor old widow. We ponder the importance of giving and risking and to stay engaged with God in the best of what life can offer. The point is not about power, money or reputation but living in the presence of God. It is about risking enough to live the best of each moment. So, even though we seem stuck in a covid-19 rut with a little engine trouble, we call out for a push and a jump so we might be more productive even as we ask: Is The Holy Spirit Might in the Mite Conceiving In Us Redemption For The New Liturgical Year?
Scripture: He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-4 (NRSV)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (NRSV)
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;
Luke 17:20 (NRSV)
Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who have been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found; they are blameless.
Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5 (NRSV)
Message: For the Nation of Israel and all things small, there is a degree of anticipation in the story of the widow mite that links its message of hope to the Second Coming as well as the first. The point is not about power, money or reputation but living in the presence of God and better understanding who we are and what has formed us. It is about risking enough to live the best of each moment with commitment to Christ, for Jesus knows us and loves us better than we can imagine. You see, Jesus has great observational skills. If you got a haircut, he would notice not just the change but whether you liked it or not. But we are not as skilled especially in seeing things of the heart. The strange thing is that we miss things we should see if we are not seeing with the right perspective. This makes me wonder how often I really pay attention when I look at people. Do I focus on the person or on all the things I’m doing? When I look at them, do I really see them? Well Jesus really saw people and he see each of us too. He sees you and me. When Jesus encountered someone, he saw their needs. They became his priority. His eyes even found the invisible ones whom everyone else overlooked, such as the poor widow. Friends, perhaps our first act of love as Christians is to open our eyes and truly see those around us. It means setting aside our own agenda for a moment, and that is not easy. But it is the only way to find out what — and whom — we’re missing! In the scripture story we see a woman loving the Lord God with all her passion and prayer and intelligence and energy… the story of the widow’s mite. Here we see a woman loving others as if she were loving herself. It is a story about measuring giving not by the size of the gift, but how much we have left after the gift is given. We stand at the kingdom’s border realizing that we too must put God first before we can come into an intimacy with Him. We cannot serve two masters. We must commit with all our heart, mind and soul to Christ and that by the very nature of his priorities engages us in the little, least and often left. As our worship life gets in a rut or worse yet starts to rot, we need revival and redemption born out of our commitment to love relationships more than things and fear God more than people. Sometimes the problem is a case of staying too long in the same comfortable place. We need to risk receiving the best in life by taking on a new challenge. But we also need a sound plan. We need to give to get and understand that God delights in the small things as well as the epic events of history. Here our attitude of gratitude is an indication of our trust in Jesus. Here we are willing to risk because we love to be generous in life living into the promises of God. Here we realize thankfully that the way of our world is not the way of God nor of God’s Kingdom. Here we find meaning for our life in small things done with great love. Yes, peace…the Prince of Peace is coming…Yes, Christmas, the light of the world is coming. Yes, Jesus is coming. But in preparation, I hope God has already taken up residence in your hearts and placed in each of us something joyful and incarnational. Here we are to be astonished at the love of God and the peace and good will that is so central to the Christian faith. But first we must have the conviction to believe it and to love. Friends, there are always changes and surprises and some of them come at Advent so be prepared. You never know what can happen when all the small things are working together.
And So, commitment is the mindset that refuses to compromise its relationship with Jesus Christ. The poor widow was all in with the Holy Spirit and as a result it influenced her life situation, rather than letting her life situations influence her. This commitment in life reveals what our heart’s treasure is, and this is reflected in our marriages and in world affairs and in our faith. In them all we need to risk receiving the best in life by taking on the challenge of honoring Jesus. But we also need to understand that God delights in the small things as well as the epic events of history. Friends, here is the point, God is interested in the heart of things and getting us to understand that if we step out in faith with a Godly purpose that things will typically work together for our good but that we must be discerning in the process. When we risk and plan both, God will typically fill the role of protector and provider. Here our attitude of gratitude is an indication of our trust in Jesus. Here we are willing to risk because we love enough to be generous in life living into the promises of God and discover it is really in our best interests. Here we find meaning for our life in small things done with great love.
Pray the Lord plant His Word in our hearts. Pray we listen to the Spirit in God’s word and practice it with love. Pray we are spiritually wealthy. Pray we are loving and continually learning how to follow the leader of all life. Pray that God will use us. Pray that we do not seek to impress. Pray that we understand that God has commanded us each to give of ourselves…something that others cannot see. Pray that we sow bountifully. Pray that our motivation be one of faith. Pray that we understand that God knows the need better than we do. Pray that we give ourselves to Him, complete in our surrender so we might be more observant of life with God as we follow the King of Creation and Redemption. Pray we not become complacent in our lives or our worship. Pray that when we give, we really feel that the person receiving needed whatever we gave more than we did. Pray our identity is defined by our relationship with God and the purposes of God. Pray we find security in God. Pray we have spiritual wealth. Pray we trust God to provide what we really need. Pray we are generous in our giving and living. Pray we are patient and purposeful in our planning. Pray we are loving and continually learning how to follow the leader of all life. Pray we put our faith this season and every season in the Lord that redeems sinners.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 