25 A woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at Jesus’ feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
I see God saying kingdom ministry is always active and available to meet a need. I hear God saying His love leads me to reach beyond my personal, cultural, and traditional preferences. Hearing God’s word calls me, draws me, and causes me to pursue Him. His word deposits faith in me. I hear God saying, Satan is a destroyer and likes to start early in life. It’s the devil’s aim to bring devastating pain through those close to me.
I will make time to reach, teach, and repeat (with loving patience) the goodness of Christ. I will continue to give children to Jesus. Through praise I celebrate the answer of my prayer in Jesus. No one is out of reach from Christ deliverance. Send your word LORD and heal.
Today I will take seven children to my altar in prayer. I will ask through the laying on of hands, “Impart the wisdom of Christ.”
Lance Anderson, Pastor
Living Way Foursquare Church – Concord
Good answer, Jesus says! Wow, how often is that His response to my answer to His challenge? The woman is undaunted by the culture of bias and prejudice surrounding her. Her child is in need. No bitterness towards others, no pride or fear will stand in the way of her goal. This is the heart of so many great mothers. Moreover, this woman sees a heart of compassion in Jesus. She knows the prejudice He challenges with is not one He shares. It is her determined heart of compassion, matching His own that is the good reply. When our compassion mimics the compassion of Jesus (who is simply revealing the heart of the Father), miracles happen. This especially true in context of prejudice (religious or otherwise) that has told people they are of no worth and value. I love Pastor Lance’s love for children, like the woman I pray his compassion opens the window of heaven. For myself, reflection on my own heart’s compassion vs prejudice will be a time today. Also praise for the mothers and fathers so compassionately invested in not only their children but others in so many ways.
Amen!
What I see is a woman who knew who Jesus was and what He was able to do; a woman who was desperate and determined and who was not going to let fear of rejection or humiliation or prejudice stand in her way.
How desperate and determined am I? I know who Jesus is and what He is able to do. Today I resolve that I will not let my own fear, fear of rejection or humiliation or prejudice–religious or otherwise–stand in my way, and I will trust who He is and what He is capable of doing at all cost.
Another example of a desperate parent falling at the feet of Jesus begging for healing for their child. And another example of Jesus meeting that desperate need with His compassionate, merciful healing touch.
Today I will focus on taking it to the Lord in prayer. And trust for his compassionate merciful healing touch in the lives of my children and the children of my heart.
I agree. I pray for my faith to be stronger and bolder than my fears.
hat I have received from these daily readings is a call to awaken and realize that how great is God. Who is there at all times to those who seek and put their faith in he .Our Lord is our true Savior.though we ofen forget or are to busy or maybe later we need to share the compassion and faith of this mother for her child and not be afraid of humility or what other think for humiliation Is wisdom. And I am truly thankful for all wisdom that our Lord shares with me.I am awake dear Lord please forgive me Lord and please share your wisdom and commitment and love to be a better father to my children.Your loyal servant, friend and son .Godbless
I hear the challenge of faith and love vs prejudice in my own life–that is, my tendency to pray for those I care for and like. Praying for someone who rubs me the wrong way or makes life difficult does not come naturally. Prejudice of any kind–subtle or obvious–gets in the way of love, faith, and healing. My ‘do’ is to pray for someone I normally wouldn’t pray for. And mean it.
I hear compassion and trust. Jesus’ heart went out to the Greek woman who begged him to heal her daughter. The woman trusted He had the authority and power over the sickness. Today I will ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to fully trust in Jesus in all circumstances, and outwardly show my trust by not complaining about daily difficulties that seem overwhelming, but only because of my lack of trust. I will also follow through on an act of compassion, that I thought about, but now feel called to make sure I complete, as a way of following Jesus.
Jesus referring to the “children” (Isreal) and the “dogs” (gentiles) was challenging this woman in order to 1. Display his compassion for the gentiles 2. Use her faith as an example .
I must have read these verses ten times looking for what God is saying to me for my life right now…
Its about the fact that the Gospel is for everyone! If but crumbs of faith can drive out demons then what a responsibility we as saved children of God have to share what we have been GIVEN with others. One only needs a crumb of genuine faith to make a decision for Christ. From that crumb we have a lifetime of sharing at our fingertips. There it is! Praise God!
I’m always shocked by this story. It’s such harsh conversation on some level. Jesus seems to be testing her faith and that’s the take-away I guess – when life seems harsh and I’m not getting the answer I want from Jesus, how will I respond? … I do like the application of bringing my children (and others) before Jesus. I’ll do that too. Thanks Lance!
May I be as bold and faithful as this woman was when I come before God
I must recognize that I had a hard time making sense of the children-and-dog analogy, but what I get from this is that this woman had a lot of faith and persevered in her request, which is probably why Jesus fulfilled her prayer.
Unlike us humans, Jesus did not grant the woman what she was asking because he had felt bothered and wanted to get rid of her. Instead it seems as if he said, “wow, this woman is quite bold and must have a lot of faith in me!”
Sometimes we think that we might be asking too much, or that our requests to the Lord make no sense. But it is always important to remember Jesus’s exhortation, “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7).
Lord, I want to never hesitate to ask for your help, because I know you always provide.