Mar 11, 2021 … Reap What We Sow

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 70

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from William McDowell singing… Withholding Nothing…  poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, are called to give our all to the Lord, … withholding nothing!

The widow giving her all ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Mark 12:44 [ESV] ... 

44 For they [the wealthy givers] all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” 

… Jesus’ illustration of how we should give as disciples of Christ.       

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …   Mark 12:38-44 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The story of the widow’s offering illustrates how all believers are called to give.  

============== 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  We should be willing to give the FIRST FRUITS of God’s providence back to His kingdom, … not the left overs.     

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:24-25 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  </b>

…  Solomon on how God blesses those who give generously to His kingdom.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:38  [ESV] …  

38 … give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 

…  Jesus teaching on how we, as His disciples, should give.

Reference Passage: … 2 Corinthians 9:6-7  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul teaching fellow Christians how to give … that we reap what we sow.    

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK …   writes of research which reveals that the “poor” in society give a higher percentage of their income to help others than do the so-called “wealthy.”   

And to illustrate God’s law of reciprocity, the ODB author also used the biblical story of the poor widow [see highlight passage] who gave her last two copper coins (see photo) to the Temple treasury, … with Jesus using the story to illustrate what William McDowell sings in the linked song, … that we must have giving hearts and surrender all we are and what we have to serve our Lord.  However, all that God calls us to give is the “first fruits” of what He gives to us [see Prov 3:9-10 and 2Cor 9:6-7].  … But do we? 

God’s principle of giving is illustrated in the Scriptures above; and if you have meditated on these truths, as I have, perhaps you are convicted - as am I - that we could probably give more from God’s providence to serve His kingdom?  What do ya think?   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for all that You give us to serve You.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to be willing to give our all - well, at least the first fruits -  to serve God’s kingdom today.     … Amen 

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.