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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?

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.

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

When we’re hurting we usually feel alone. Abandoned. Forsaken. Sometimes we feel we are the only ones who are – or have – ever felt this way. No one cares. No one appreciates. No one understands.

Of course that isn’t true. We may even know it’s not true, but it certainly feels true.

And when we feel that way, in the moment, hope seems, at best, fleeting.

That’s true not just when we are hurting, but also when we are crushed by our sins. When we have separated ourselves from God’s plan and actions – again. When we have rebelled against the One who loves us beyond comprehension.

And He didn’t just say it, He showed it. In the flesh. On the cross. Through and empty tomb. The sinless One became sin for us.

We know that, but we often think of it more as an abstraction. A truth that’s far away from our reality. A nice narrative to just be believed.

Our text today brings this truth home!

Jesus’ time on earth wasn’t just manifested on the cross and in the tomb. It was also in His living. He came like us; to be weak like us; to be tempted like us. He came to experience our sufferings, to sympathize with our weaknesses, to endure our failures.

And then to overcome them. For us! Forever!

Now, whenever we feel broken, hurt, alone; when we feel unforgiven, abandoned, or lost, we can look to Jesus, who understands. Who truly and fully understands. Who perfectly understands. And who, because of His abiding, enduring love for us, goes to the Father on our behalf, intervening for us and lifting us up out of the mire and muck and walking with us through the hurts and pains.

Jesus came to suffer, die, and rise for our forgiveness and salvation. But He continues even today to intervene when we loose sight of eternity because of our temporality. And His grace and mercy extend both to the there-and-not-yet as well as to the here-and-now!

What an amazing God we have. What a wonderful Savior! What a loving Lord!

Scriptures

• Psalm 119:9-16 [Confession and Absolution]
• Hebrews 4:14-16

There is a lot in Scripture that is difficult to accept; difficult to believe. There is a lot that is at odds with what our reason or what our society says. There is a lot of difference between what God’s heart tells us as shared in His Word and what our own hearts tell us.

As Shakespeare put it, “there’s the rub!”We seem to constantly be comparing the two – God’s way or ours. God’s Word or ours. God’s heart or ours.

And with any seeming “win” we think we have in these situations there is something else which accompanies it – the path toward evil; toward destruction; toward death.Having a heart that believes God in one thing but denies in anther is grossly inconsistent, spiritually dangerous, and disastrously foolish.

Yet we seem comfortable – even desirable – of that dichotomy.
Brothers and sisters, this must not be!

When there is a difference between God and us – our heart and His, His must win! Always! In every area!

It’s ok to feel and know there is tension between the two, but when it comes down to it, God calls on us to have a heart that fully fears, loves, and trusts in Him regardless of how we feel about it. He calls us to follow His will and directions, even when they conflict with what we think it best. He calls us to have a heart that believes in His love and salvation in Jesus over and against anything else that we may believe.

And here’s something beautiful: He knows that we have a hard time with this, so what He demand of our heart, He freely gives! Through the Holy Spirit, our hearts are turned to Him in faith; turned to Jesus in salvation; turned to Him in obedience.

We will continue to have doubting hearts at times. There will continue to be tension at times, and God knows that. But in those times of uncertainly and doubt; those times of a difference in our hearts, look to Jesus on the cross and to the empty tomb and believe! Take the next steps in faith through the Holy Spirit, even in the doubt. Live in the believing heart of faith He gives and strengthens us with constantly!

Acknowledge the tension but move forward with a believing heart in faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Scriptures

• Hebrews 3:12-19
• Mark 10:17-22

“Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15

I think sometimes we equate that with entering with tantrums, trying to get our way, and have everything the way we want! We mistake child-like with childish.

Of coure that’s not what’s meant.

It means loving God in a way that He is the center of our universe and where, in our eyes, He can do no wrong. It means trusting God, knowing He will take care of us no matter what, forever. It means fearing and respecting Him, knowing He is God and we are not and that, no matter what, His way will always prevail.

When we take our faith in a childish way instead of child-like, we expect things to revolve around us and not God.

One of the ways we do this is in how we plan and deal with our “legacy.” How will I be celebrated when I pass? How will I be remembered? How will my name – how will I live on?

How foolish! How juvenile! How childish!

What people do to “celebrate us” after we pass is fleeting. Whether or not people remember us is irrelevant. Whether or not our name ‘lives’ on is ridiculous.

Whether or not people celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil is what endures. Whether or not people remember Jesus is what is all relevant! Whether we do all we can to let people know that Jesus and His name alone lives is what is all important!

Our whole goal in life and death should be knowing, living, and sharing Jesus! He should be our focus in legacy.

And the beautiful thing is, through faith in Him, we already have the best, everlasting, beautiful legacy we could imagine – Heaven with Him! He makes our lives here worth living and our lives hereafter guaranteed!

Why do we need people to celebrate us when the angels celebrate our repentance and return to Him? Why do we want or need others to remember us when God does? Why do we need our names written large on tombstones or buildings when they are already written on the palm of His hand?

Through faith in Jesus, we already have the perfect legacy for all time – Jesus! Celebrate, remember, and share Him, with a child-like, and enduring faith!

“We thank You, Lord, for the perfect, lasting gift of Jesus, who has forgiven our sins and given us His name as a guarantee of the legacy of Heaven that awaits! Grant us Your Spirit to celebrate, live and share Him so their everlasting legacy is secured, too. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Scriptures

• Mark 10:13-16
• Psalm 128