Jesus spends most of Tuesday of Holy Week teaching and being questioned by the religious leaders in order that they might trap Him somehow.

Were they jealous of His following? Did they feel threatened by the authority with which He taught? Or did they reason, if they could trip Him up, they might surely prove He was not worthy to rule over them.

So they questioned Him, but every attempt failed.

His words only frustrated and enraged them.

Then, Jesus looks up from their wearisome questions, to see a poor widow putting in two mites at the temple treasury. He says, “Truly, I say to you that this widow has put in more than all, for these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21:4).

And I pause, this Tuesday of Holy Week and ask the Lord to examine my heart.

It’s so easy to shake my head at the religious leaders who tried to question and resist the authority of Christ until I come to this point in scripture describing the actions of this poor widow…Jesus looks up and sees her giving ALL she had.

We can’t ignore this. We can’t skip past this. If we do, we are surely looking for a loophole in our following of Christ like those religious leaders.

We must ask ourselves, “Am I giving out of my abundance or out of my poverty?”

So many of us have such abundance —and I am not just talking of material possessions. Perhaps, the harder question we need to ask ourselves is, “Am I giving of things I value more than my money or my possessions?

What about my time and my reputation? Am I putting everything on the line for the cause of Christ? Am I truly laying everything on the altar?

What about my expectations for how my life should go? What about when this God, I say I trust and follow, allows something to happen that I don’t like or understand? Do I hold back then?

And what about when the room is full of the big names, the popular ones, the ones I really want to like me or who I think can help me? Will I speak biblical truth, will I share the gospel even if it offends and isolates me?

Will I give God only that which costs me nothing (2 Sam 24:24) or will I find the courage to stand for biblical truth in this lost world?

And what if that stand costs me my job, or fellowship with friends, or even family, that I love?

Lord, as we think about what You did for us on the Cross this Holy Week, slow us down. Examine our hearts. Show us if we are looking for loopholes in our obedience to You. Show us if we are only giving You what is easy—out of our abundance; or if we are giving our all, as You ask, like that poor widow.

Oh, may we truly stop and ponder the words of Jim Elliot who said, “ He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Friend, let’s encourage each other to follow Jesus, in giving what we cannot keep, this temporary life, for what we cannot lose—eternity with Him.

May we endure whatever persecution that may come our way for the JOY that is set before us—knowing the God of the Universe in real relationship.

Oh Lord, wake us up. Revive us. Work in and through Your people to advance Your Kingdom. Help us be a light in this dark world.

Anoint our tongues to tell of Your goodness and the lasting hope, joy and peace that comes only from a life completely surrendered to You.

For all glory and honor and power is due You alone!

whataSavior

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