PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 7:24-30
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27)
Jesus is visiting Tyre, a non-Jewish area.
But why does he call this woman a ‘dog’… not a very Jesus-like thing to say?
He knows how the Canaanites and Jews felt about each other.
It might be the same attitude found between Jews and Palestinians today.
Jesus knows how this woman thinks of Jews, and he throws that back at her.
He knows her heart, and surgically cuts into her unhealthy attitude.
“It is from a person’s heart that malice, slander and arrogance come…” (Mark 7:21-22)
The woman knows it too, and her heart is humbled.
Jesus loves her; he heals her daughter, but also the attitude of her heart.
Jesus speaks personally to each one of us, addressing our issues and sins.
As a Jesus follower, this passage is meant to speak to me, to expose my attitudes.
Is the Spirit challenging how I think about people of other faiths, cultures, lifestyles?
Am I demeaning others by labeling them, treating them as less than God’s children?
Does my heart need to be humbled, to see that I am not better than others?
PRAYER
Lord, You are speaking to my heart, gently but firmly calling me to repent too. Help me to see that when Your words are sharp, they are a surgeon’s knife, cutting away something unhealthy.
He could not keep his presence secret! May that be for us as Jesus followers – that by being who we are, if we truly are like Jesus – that we can’t keep Jesus presence in us a secret! May I live a radiant Christ like life so that others will note that I am follower of Jesus! Like this woman, people will draw near and want to know -especially those who want healing and comfort.
The woman sought Jesus despite of her position – a less than desire person being a Gentile. Her love for her daughter drove her to Jesus to save her. She had expectant faith and persistence pursueing in hope. And she believed His words when He said that her child was healed even before seeing the evidence. Jesus did not refuse to help her. Increase my faith Lord in Your mighty power in my life.
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!