(Reading: Matthew 15)
Matthew 15.27 27 “Yes
it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their
master’s table.” – A Foreigner
Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon – north and
west of Jerusalem – and a local (non-Jewish) woman approached Him, crying out: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My
daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus flat ignored her
until his disciples began to complain: Do
Something! She’s bugging us!
He then said to her: “I
was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” And she persisted: “Lord, help me!” One last time the Lord
said, “It is not right to take the
children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Whereupon she threw the slider: “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from
their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her
daughter was healed at that moment. (V. 28)
The woman had crummy
faith. I’m not sure she caught Jesus in His words, there wasn’t anything to
catch, but she was quick. She knew
about masters and dogs. She knew masters would smack a dog for trying to get up
onto the table, but didn’t seem to mind their snatching crumbs that fell to the
floor. (If those masters were anything like us at our house, the dang dog got
rewarded for being such a mooch! Plate licking and all…) Dogs aren't driven away, but they do have limits...
And here I think is the lesson of faith: be persistent
with God: “Lord, help me!” God knows
our need; He knew her need. But God is only impressed with faith, …and without faith it is impossible to please
God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11.6) It doesn’t matter who you
are or where you’re from: faith in God, gets His attention.
They aren’t magical words, but they are meaningful: Lord, help me! God wants to help those –
not who help themselves – who come to Him in needy faith – crummy faith – crying
out Lord, help me! God delights in those who come dependent upon Him.
Now then, He isn’t a genie, but He (according to His word)
rewards those who earnestly seek him. The foreign woman was an example of
someone who earnestly sought Jesus – calling Him by His proper name, and
pleading: Lord, help me!
That’s faith,
and that worked.
Father, thank You
that You remember me in my need and You respond to my prayers accordingly. I
want crummy faith, the kind that persists and honors You for who You are, and
what You’ve done. Help me to share that faith with others and bring glory to
You. I know I’m not a dog, but I do have needs. Lord, help me! Amen
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