“A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.  Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:42).

In whom do you trust?  One of the gods of this world is money (Mammon).  Those who have more than enough still seek to have even more.  Money gives the illusion of power.  But all power belongs to God, so this is just one of the illusions of this age.  The Lord grants us an abundance so that we can share with others.  The sharing is for the sake of bringing all to the Father’s house.  Be generous as our Lord is generous to you.

Creator of all worlds, You have blessed me with so many things.  I live in a time of extreme blessings, but I often take these for granted.  Help me to live knowing that all things are from You, for You created them and they are Yours.  Help me to see that even a cup of water for one who is thirsty ministers to those in Your kingdom.  Help me to share what I have with others so that they too may have the opportunity to be with You forever.

Lord Jesus, You have pointed out these things for our sake.  I do not have to do certain things to gain Your approval.  You have gone to the cross to gain my approval before the Father.  Help me to live into the life You have given me knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Where I withhold where I should freely give, convict me.  Where I would give, but You would have me withhold, grant me strength to be faithful and discerning.  Amen.

“And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums” (Mark 12:41).

Jesus knows all that we do.  Some give out of their abundance.  Others cannot give out of abundance, but give none-the-less.  We are called to seek to have enough to give to others.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  In our world, which seeks to accumulate wealth, we forget that the Lord blesses us not just for our sake, but for the sake of others as well.  Charity is not just giving to one in need, but also a reflection of what is in the heart.

Lord God Almighty, You tell me to abide in faith, hope, and charity (or love).  Love and charity are often interchangeable.  You gave Your life so that we who have no abundant life might have a new life in You.  Help me to comprehend that You are creating a new heart in me.  Let it be done to me according to Your will.  Teach me to be a generous giver and to express my love for You by being charitable to others in thought, word, and deed.

Lord Jesus, You point out to me the things I need to know.  Help me to live into the new life which You give up in order for me to gain such knowledge.  Remove from me the greed and avarice in me because of sin so that I may more fully live the life of faith which You have given me.  Teach me what I need to learn this day and help me focus upon those things which will faithfully lead me to become like You.  Amen.

“In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation” (Mark 12:38-40).

Sinners settle, each in their own place of pride.  We love to look down upon others and not see that we all have been made in God’s image.  From those who accumulate vast wealth to those who lord it over others from their small positions, it is the same.  It ought not be so with those who believe.  Jesus is Lord and we are called, each from our place, to where the Lord will grow us in His image.

Lord, I begin to see that Your Kingdom is nothing like how this world establishes governments.  We are each different, yet all the same in Your love.  You do not Lord it over us, as those in the world do, but love each of us and give us the opportunity to grow into Your image, not with power built upon pride, but as You lift us up to do the Father’s will.  Guide me in this upward journey.

Lord Jesus, I am polluted by the ways of this world which tries to do it all without You.  Pride raises up those whom we call great and puts down the humble.  Help me to have a different way of thinking about things so that I live in the way You are preparing me to live.  Place a heavenly mind in me that seeks for what is good here, now, and forever.  Lead me in the call You have given me to become what You are making of me.  Amen.

“David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him” (Mark 12:37).

We can be guilty of torturing a text, but perhaps more often, we do not see what it is actually saying.  David’s Son is called Lord.  We have heard and believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, born in time and space, yet also the Alpha and Omega.  He told us before it came to pass.  So also, there are many things He teaches us along the way, as we are able to hear, but the most important You already know: Jesus is Lord.

Lord, help me to understand what You would have me know with the words You have given me through Scripture.  Help me also to not worry about what I do not understand.  You have already given me the words of everlasting life.  Help me move beyond just listening to You, to applying what You have said, for if these are the words of everlasting life, then I need to receive them and be prepared to spend eternity with You.

Lord Jesus, You have shown the way and set me upon it.  Your word also tells me that I am to be conformed to Your image.  Guide me today and every day You give me, to walk in the way You would have me walk, doing those things which will shape my character, and lead me in the way You know I need to go.  I know You are my ever-present help; teach me to abide

“And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?  David himself said in the Holy Spirit”, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’ (Mark 12:35).

Jesus points out the small things in Scripture which point to very specific things.  How can one be younger than king David and yet older?  If you are God in the flesh, that is exactly what it is.  The right hand of the Lord is accomplishing all things according to the Father’s will.  Be led by Him and trust that the Lord knows all things and will bring them to pass according to His will.

Lord, I live with a people who are constantly questioning.  They wonder, but many will not pause to hear the answer.  Help me to not be like those in my culture, but instead, one who stops and listens.  Lead me in the truth You have revealed so that I may hear and heed Your word of truth.  Guide me in Your goodness now and always through this age that shall be brought into subjection under Your authority.

Lord Jesus, You have come with gentleness in order that we who believe may be united with You.  You speak truth and tell us of these things so that we may believe.  Help me to live out the truth You have spoken by believing and obeying Your word of truth.  Help me to hear when You speak and to act upon what I hear.  Place me where You will but lead me as one who is subject to You, my Lord and King.  Amen.

“When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions” (Mark 12:34).

Having the right knowledge and understanding the principles are fine, but it is only when one enters the love relationship that one begins the journey of becoming like Christ.  More than an intellectual exercise, one becomes a child again and is reared in the way of eternal love.  This is the process of becoming.  What we will be we do not know, but we do know that we shall become like Christ.

Lord, I have taken the intellectual steps, but there are many times when I settle upon this and do not take the actual steps of learning how to love.  Guide me in the steps You know I need to take.  Help me so that I progress to the place where I fully abide in You, knowing that You are abiding in me.  Minister to the whole of me and keep me with You now and forever.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to me where You know I need help.  Guide me away from the ways of this world and its self-seeking.  Take me to the place where I learn to love You and my neighbor as You prompt me.  Through all that I experience, help me to understand that it is not what I feel, but what You are doing that is important.  Lead me all the days of my life.  Amen.

“The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:32-33).

The heart of the Gospel is in the simple reality that we have been invited into an eternal loving relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords.  To live in His love is to become one who loves as the Lord loves.  He loves every sinner, but He hates the sin.  He has come to give His life and love so that we may join with Him in love and truly live.  This is not a subject of sacrifice on our part, but the object itself in the goal of being with Him.

Lord, You invite me to be with You.  You have invited me into a love relationship with You and all others, understanding things through Your eyes of love.  Guide me, Lord, so that I live according to Your good word, doing those things which are the expression of Your love.  You are One, and in the mystery of Trinity, You have revealed Yourself so that all who believe might enter into an eternal love relationship both with You and our neighbor.

Guide me, Lord Jesus, to learn from You what love really looks like.  Teach me the way of eternal love so that I love You and my neighbor in the way which is pleasing to the Father.  Keep me away from pride and help me to live according to Your word.  Through You, I can do this as You lead me day by day and step by step to be conformed to Your perfect and loving image.  Help me to do this.  Amen.

“The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).

Who is my neighbor?  Whomever I am with in the moment, that is my neighbor.  I do not have to like them.  Often, I do not.  But they are my neighbor.  If by love we mean to have fond feelings for them, that denies the reality that I have been loving myself my whole life and there are many times when I do not like myself.  Love cares for the other as God cares for us all. Learn to love as God loves, for God is love.

Lord, You know how befuddled we have become in this age with all its romantic ideas.  You so love the world – hating the sin that rules – that You have done what needs to be done so that we can be lifted out of the mire of sin and come into Your love.  Guide me out of the mess of thinking that pollutes my mind so that I may humbly walk in the way of truth, loving You and my neighbor as You lead me to love.

Lord Jesus, You teach us that all the commandments are wrapped up in this.  Teach me all that this means.  Guide me in living according to this commandment with what You intend and not with what I think or feel.  Help me today and each day that You give me in this age to grow in the love You intend for me to have for You and for others.  Lead me in the way of love, Lord.  Amen.

“Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 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’” (Mark 12:29-30).

The Lord is One.  The unbeliever asks how the Lord can be three and yet be One.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One God.  We have the revelation He has given us.  Hear, listen, and learn: God is love.  The relationship of our Triune God exudes His love into creation.  Learn to love the One who first loved you.  Come into His love and learn to love others as He loves them.  Do so with all that you are.

Lord, you know that this world promotes that love is a feeling and so I often do not feel like loving.  But, by Your example, I see that love is action.  While yet we were sinners, You loved us.  Teach me the principle that goes deep into my soul so that I may act by Your direction knowing that all that You direct comes from the love that You have for Your whole creation.  Teach me what it means to love.

Lord Jesus, You and the Father are love in relationship.  You subjected Yourself to death, even death on a cross, out of love for us all.  Help me so that I enter into that love relationship You have established knowing that in You alone will I find life’s meaning and purpose.  Guide me so that I learn how to love You and my neighbor.  Keep me from the distractions of this world to abide in You and the love You have in order that it may flow through me.  Amen.

“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” (Mark 12:28)

We love to quantify and make an economy of things.  Ask me what is the most important thing and I will focus upon that.  The Lord looks at our heart, and what may be the most important thing for us in this moment may not be of significance in another.  All the commandments are important.  What is most important is that we live by faith, trusting that the Lord will lead us in the way of salvation.

Lord God, how I love to quantify.  How much?  How many?  Tell me what is important so that I can ignore what is not.  You have created us to live life.  You have called for us to learn how to be faithful.  Lead me, Lord, so that I do not just quantify things, but live in the relationships You have established around me.  Guide me into Your grace and goodness so that I humbly see that what You give me in this moment is the most important thing.

Guide me, Lord Jesus, so that I do not constantly question You, but hear and heed Your word.  Yes, some things are more important than others in the moment.  By the power of Your Holy Spirit, show me the most important thing which is before me in each moment.  Lead me to learn from You how to live in the righteousness You give.  Keep me from arguing and help me to spend that energy learning how to be faithful.  Amen.