Some years ago, a dear Christian lady began preparations to send a box of supplies to missionaries from her church. A neighborhood girl hear of her venture and desired to help. But being only a small child, she had very little that would be useful to the missionaries. The child did have a penny, however – a gift from a favorite uncle – which she cheerfully presented to the woman to help her friends on the mission field.
Touched by the child’s heartfelt generosity and not wanted to offend her in spite of her small gift, the lady graciously accepted the coin. But the gift was much too small to purchase supplies, and the lady was uncertain how she could put it to good use. Then an idea occurred to her, and she used the child’s penny to purchase a single gospel tract.
On the day when all the necessary supplies had been gathered, the lady asked the child to help her prepare the box for shipment. One by one, the lady and the child packed the items, being careful to include the gospel tract purchased with the penny gift. The box was finally sealed and addressed, and together the lady and the girl took it to the post office to be shipped to their friends halfway around the world.
A few weeks later the box reached the missionaries. The supplies it held brought a measure of sweet relief to their modest circumstances. Near the bottom of the box, the missionaries discovered the gospel tract, which they soon gave to one of the local people.
The tract was passed among the people, eventually reaching a great chief who lived in a nearby region. Intrigued by its message but unsure of its meaning, the chief called for the missionaries to come and explain the teachings. They came and began to share the gospel, and in time the chief yielded his life to Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. The chief told the story of his conversion to his people, many of whom also believed. Eventually, the new believers established a church, and through it over fifteen hundred people were brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
An excerpt from “Acts & Facts” magazine from the Institute For Creation Research (August edition).
Mark 12:41-44 – 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Our God, who is good and gracious all the time, and who loves us so preciously, does not expect of us more than He has given us. He just wants us to give to Him as He has enabled us. And, since He gave us what we have, He knows exactly what we should be giving to Him. I write this concerning the giving as God has blessed us financially, but also, and importantly, about our talents and abilities. God would have us give the “penny” of our abilities and let Him bless it so that His kingdom is advanced exactly as He would have it. He is saying, give to me your desire to serve me and I will use you to be a part of the sharing of His story to the world, beginning in our little section of the world. When we think we have nothing to add to the Kingdom of God, then we are ready to let the power of God work through us. We are unable, but in His will, the work He does through us is invincible! The purpose of what He has us doing may not be the purpose we think. Do we have to know what He plans to accomplish through us? Why not just have more fun than knowing, let loose, and when God says to, in faith, jump, let’s jump! The excitement is in landing squarely in the will of God!
Zechariah 4:6 – So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
This is what I know: God is good all the time and He loves us!
May the awareness of His great love for you be what you most know.
IHS 3/22/15
by Bob with