Compelling Faith
The Macedonians’ generosity for the sake of sharing the Gospel with others exemplifies being motivated by the Gospel. There is a similar story recorded in Mark 12:41-44, concerning Jesus observing many people giving “out of their abundance” and a widow giving “all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44).
Commentators call this passage a closure to the interaction between Jesus and the religious authorities, particularly the Sadducees and the scribes who were questioning His authority. In this passage, Jesus commends one of the scribes who agrees with Jesus that loving God
“with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). Jesus responds by telling him “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).
As Jesus observed people giving an offering at the temple, He expressed to the disciples that the widow “has put in more than all those who are contributing” (Mark 12:43). These remarks of Jesus correlate with our challenge from Sunday morning in our series “BEYOND”: “are you giving out of privilege or out of duty. Our faith should compel us to give because of what we’ve received rather than what we’ve done.
Take the steps that prepare your heart through prayer and washing your life through the reading of his Word, to prepare you to give to God and serve because of God.
Commentators call this passage a closure to the interaction between Jesus and the religious authorities, particularly the Sadducees and the scribes who were questioning His authority. In this passage, Jesus commends one of the scribes who agrees with Jesus that loving God
“with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). Jesus responds by telling him “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).
As Jesus observed people giving an offering at the temple, He expressed to the disciples that the widow “has put in more than all those who are contributing” (Mark 12:43). These remarks of Jesus correlate with our challenge from Sunday morning in our series “BEYOND”: “are you giving out of privilege or out of duty. Our faith should compel us to give because of what we’ve received rather than what we’ve done.
Take the steps that prepare your heart through prayer and washing your life through the reading of his Word, to prepare you to give to God and serve because of God.
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