The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “MY ALL” for Wednesday, 17 August 2016 with Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “MY ALL” for Wednesday, 17 August 2016 with Scripture: Mark 12:41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
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Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.[Mark 12:30 (NIV)]
The widow in today’s reading knew that even sacrifices that seem small to others can be painful. She carefully placed her money in the temple treasury. Did she wonder what good such a small offering could do? Did she doubt that God would notice how much it truly cost her?
Sometimes I wonder if God really cares about the little decisions we make. But whenever I read this story, I know that God notices what our sacrifices cost. When we offer God something as “small” as thinking a holy thought when we want to be critical, wading through a trial with joy rather than bitterness, or loving someone who irks us, God notices our attempt to honor and obey. However, the reverse is also true. God knows when what I “sacrifice” costs me little or nothing.
I know that God forgives me when I don’t invest in the lives of others, but I realize that this is not the way to respond to God’s breathtaking, life-saving grace. Out of love, I want to serve God, not with just a little, not even with a lot, but with everything God has given me. God is worthy of my all!
The Author: Bliss Baird (Kansas, USA) — See p. 21.
Thought for the Day: What will I gladly sacrifice for God today?
Prayer: Lord, we want to offer you everything. Grant us opportunities to give you our all — all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE WHO HAS SACRIFICED FOR ME

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