Tuesday ~ Sacrifical Offering

Tuesday marks the day in Passion Week where Jesus is constantly challenged at every single turn. He must have been exhausted, yet He handled every situation with clarity, authority, and grace. He spoke the Parable of the Fig Tree, the two sons and the wicked husbandman. He proclaimed Himself greater than David, and gave the great commandment. He set the scribes and religious leaders down from their lofty perches. Conspirators and traitors loomed in the shadows as the plots for betrayal were finalized.

In the midst of all of this, we find Jesus sitting in the Court of Women where the temple treasury was kept. We are told that He is once again observing the people, and no doubt keeping a protective eye over the temple dealings. Worshippers passed by Him, leaving their offerings in the trumpet-shaped vessels.

Boisterous, gloating, pompous Pharisees came with their coins jingling in oversized, lined pockets of their costly robes. Drawing as much attention to themselves they could muster, they dropped their donations with announcement and noise. Others came, giving out of their abundance and riches, as large sums of money started to pile up.

Entering through the gate… A widowed woman shuffles towards the ruckus, making her way humbly through the crowd.

Nobody notices her. Nobody would…

She reaches into her worn, weathered widowed garment and says a prayer. She extends her hand over the mouth of the box as the last of everything she has to her name comes to rest on the shiny gold coins. These copper pieces were not worth enough to even make a clink.

Calling His disciples over, Jesus gives a lesson concerning offerings and how they are measured in eternity. This woman gave everything she had. All. She offered until she was completely dependent on the Lord to sustain her. It may not have been much in quantity, but her coins resounded in the heavens loud and weighty!

And unbeknown to this sweet lady… she was noticed. The Messiah was watching her, teaches His disciples a lesson about her, and what she gave to the Lord remains in the cannon of scripture for us to talk about today.

Why does the Lord give so much attention to this woman? May I suggest to you that a true sacrificial heart, without any selfish gain, without looking to receive recognition, is a gem and a precious thing to the Him!

David had the same heart in 2 Samuel 24, where he demands to purchase the threshing floor to build an altar at a cost, even though it was being freely given to him.

‘I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that costs me nothing!’

A challenge for us to think about:

µ       Have I recently given out to the Lord at a cost? Cost of money, time, resources, effort?

      µ       In our hearts, if we were honest, do we wait to see if someone will notice us if we do?
      µ       Is receiving a heavenly reward good enough for us, or does our flesh always require a pat on the back?
      µ       Has the Lord called us to true sacrifice and we declined the call?

When we give of ourselves in whatever way the Lord is asking us to, it is always noticed!

Not too far away, your Messiah is sitting, watching you in your obedience, smiling from ear to ear, and whispers to your spirit, “That’s my girl!”

Lord, would You give us the strength to see things the way You see them. Keep our flesh at bay as we strive to obey You in sacrifice. We thank You and are amazed that You would take notice of us at all, but we are so elated that you do!

(Mark 12: 38-44, 2 Sam 24:18-25, 1 Sam 15:22,  2 Cor 9:6-15)

 


 

Monday ~ House cleaning!

It was Passover week in Jerusalem. Pilgrims from all over the known world would come to gather to worship and take part in the celebrations. The city would be busting at the seams as the population would erupt to 100,000 visitors. Jesus and His disciples were in town, preparing for what would be the greatest Passover of all history.

Worshippers of all kinds approached the temple to purchase their sacrificial lambs and exchange foreign currencies. Many were not allowed to venture any further then the Court of Gentiles. The Sadducees, who were the elected overseers of these commercial ventures, placed their tables near the front entrance, open for their lucrative business. Money was short-changed, and perfectly approvable sacrificial animals were deemed unworthy just to make a profit. Sojourners, simply desiring to offer true worship and to bring a sacrifice to the Lord, were hindered at the gate by thieves and robbers.

Jesus, undoubtedly in a prayerful and heightened sense of compassion, observes how the people were being cheated and mistreated. In righteous indignation, and passion we could only imagine, Jesus rushes the crowd, turns over the tables, and not so kindly dismisses the employees as He drives them out of the temple court.

We, as the bride of Christ, are called the temple of the Living God. We are a dwelling the Holy Spirit has chosen by grace to come and abide with Jesus as the cornerstone and sure foundation of our faith.

A challenge for us to think about:

µ       How do our temples look?

µ       Is it time to clean house?

µ       Do we hinder true worship from ascending in our hearts because there may be sin at the gate?

µ       Are there still locked doors and hidden closets we are hoping are not exposed to the light of His glory?

µ       How do our dwelling places look on the inside behind the pulled shades?

I do not think it is by chance that the very first task on the Lord’s agenda for Passion Week was the temple cleansing. If the Lord cannot enter the temple and be glorified, we have some serious problems. Do you agree?

The temple is where worship ascends, sacrifices are offered, incense rises from the altar, prayers mingle in the throne room, the mercy seat heavy with the glory of the Lord, atonement is made. It is a beautiful thing to the Lord!

May You, Lord, find Your temple to be a dwelling with which You approve, that You would come down and consume us with His glory! Show us where we have failed, and correct us with Your grace and leading!

(Matt 21:12-13, 2 Cor 6:16, Eph 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:1-12)