Author: Scott Heitshusen (Page 3 of 85)

What are our priorities? Not just what we say they are or want them to be or what we think they should be so others view us the “right” way; what are they actually?

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.

1 Kings 17:13

Last week we heard that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. But, really — “all”?! I mean, come on. That’s just hyperbole, right?

That’s what we’d like to believe, but that is not the reality of the text or our calling.

Today’s Scriptures make that clear.

In the Gospel, Jesus praises the poor widow literally gave everything she had! In the Old Testament lesson, Elijah asks for the same from a widow and her son; and she obliges!

Both gave because the truly believed and put that faith into practice, trusting that the Lord would provide!

So, what’s holding us back from being “all in” for God in all areas of our lives? Is it a lack of calling? A lack of faith? A lack of trust? Is it disbelief in what Scripture says or what God commands? Is it an inherent security that comes from our stuff instead of God? Our time instead of His work? Our perceived duty to self and others over duty to Him?

The fact is, there is nothing we have that isn’t actually His; including our things and time. When we realize that He has simply granted us temporary stewardship over these things, it is very freeing! Our decisions can be “all in” because they are “all His” anyway. We can rely on His provisions because we see His faithfulness for us every day. So we can respond in with the same generous faithfulness in all things!

“Thank You, Lord, for Your constant faithfulness to us and provisions for us. Grant us thankful hearts that respond to You in every way, for everything, forever! In Jesus’ name. Amen!”

Scriptures

• Mark 12:41-44
• 1 Kings 17:8-16

There are some people who love school and learning. Others; not so much.

Jesus answered, “The most important [commandment] is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:29

Yet constant learning is a calling for every Christian. Learning more and more about what God’s says, about what God wants, what God has done, what He will do.

Most of us are familiar with the Greatest two commandments: Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourself. But many seem to simply stop there.

It’s good to know the two greatest, but they aren’t the only!

God has a lot to say and we have a lot to learn. He gives us all of Scripture to bring us closer to Him; to bring others to Him. If we aren’t constantly learning and growing, we are not fulfilling God’s call and commands.

He tells us to teach, talk about, bind, and write His Words. To do that, we need to learn and do them, too!

We need to be in a constant state of humble learning, gentle teaching, and active living all His Words!

“Send Your Spirit, Lord, and teach us, and help us teach others and live for You; in and through Jesus. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• Mark 12:28-34