Passage of the Day:
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment, Matthew 15:21-28.
Reflection:
When a mother is unable to help one of her children, a sense of desperation sets in. This is the context which led a Canaanite woman to seek out Jesus in a foreign land. This woman wasn’t hoping for healing. Nor was the Canaanite woman wishing for a happy ending for her daughter. Rather, this woman demanded healing from this demonic possession. The manner in which Mattew records this encounter suggests that Jesus is testing this woman. When this woman makes a scene, the disciples tried to convince Jesus to send her away. Intrigued by the fortitude within this Canaanite woman, Jesus continues their conversation. Although it’s unclear if fortitude conceived faith or faith produced fortitude, the belief and will for a miracle made this woman’s prayer request a reality.
Prayerful Action:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, Hebrews 11:1.
Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:
Whenever I experience a series of failures, rejections and setbacks in life, I begin to lose confidence. The reason why Jesus received so many visitors during His three-year ministry is that needy people had nowhere else to turn. As stories about Jesus’ curing, healing and freeing souls from demonic forces spread, people began to ponder, “if Jesus healed others, why can’t He do the same for me?” Subsequently, as this Canaanite woman left home to find Jesus, she refused to take no for an answer. Like a group of bodyguards, the disciples could not hold back her resolve. Finally, after a series of rejections, this woman persisted with one shrew response after another until Jesus finally answered her prayer. This is the spiritual guts Christians need to demonstrate today.
Song of the Day:
As this Canaanite woman left Jesus’ presence, there was a sense in her heart that her Savior lives. Upon reaching home to see her own daughter set free from demons, she likely proclaimed Jesus as Lord of all. May today’s song touch your heart and revive your soul with a spirit of fortitude.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 