Matthew 15:22 A Canaanite woman cries out, O LORD, Son of David----this sobbing mother BELIEVES that He is God while she is living in a land of pagans. Desperate with a tormented daughter. This Gentile BELIEVES that HE has enough power left over from Israel for even a Canaanite child. "Jesus did not answer her a WORD (15:23)." This Gentile wouldn't take His silence as her answer. That was a white-hot step of faith for her. Jesus replies: "Great is your faith. Be it done for you as you desire (15:28)." This passage stirs my white-hot silent heart. I wonder if Jesus heard the Canaanite woman crying out and walked ALL THE WAY to Tyre and Sidon just to find her? My God has been oh-so-silent over here in ATX for a very long time. I believe Jesus is walking to you and to me. Wonder what a white-hot step of faith looks like for each of us this day?
"God is not an employer looking for employees.
He is an Eagle looking for people who will take refuge under his wings.
He is looking for people who will leave anything
that may hold them back from a life of love under the wings of Jesus."
John Piper
I'm so glad stories like the Canaanite woman are included in Scripture. Jesus's silence is revealed as part of the plan. The woman's faith to persist and not grow weary makes Jesus happy. What is our role in times of need? Cling to faith and give God the credit, the glory. Praise Him in the crisis.
ReplyDeleteMat 15:30-31
"and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking,the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel."
Praying you hear Him in this very day, Bev. He is near.
Praying He speaks to you today, Bev..softly or loudly but that He speaks and you hear His beautiful voice.
ReplyDeleteSomething in me stirs and erupts from a good place in my heart, not a demanding one. But a place where I stand alone before our God waiting for a word with tears streaming down. He has already spoken...the Word is on its way. Daniel 9:23. I believe!
ReplyDeleteI can't choose a specific reading today. I've cut and pasted several and I just keep finding something else that speaks to me.
ReplyDeleteI ponder the refusal to meet the Canaanite woman's plea. What did it cost Him? Did He lose power as He performed miracles? Was He limited with "just enough" to meet the expected? I've been so needy that I've used this woman's prayer..."Please, just a crumb, Lord?" He is more than enough to me.
I picture him walking by the Sea of Galilee and then climbing up the mountain. No hurry. Just strolling. At peace. I wonder if He breathed deeply of the salt air. And if He listened to the sound of a gull. I even wonder if the birds were drawn to Him as their Creator. And what about the rag-tag group of desperate people coming towards Him? Was there fear? Would it fail for them this time...again? As all other hopes were dashed?
Not this time. This time the Son rose over the Sea of Galilee. The Son of God met every desperate need and they glorified Him.
And the disciples at the feeding of the multitude. He blesses the measly meal, breaks the bread, and gives it to the disciples. They touched this miracle. They handled the multiplying bread and fish. They participated in the process.
What does that say to me?
It lets me know that I am a part of His Work. Even His Work in performing miracles. I follow Christ. I have no power outside of myself. But I have faith. And that's all He asks of me.
Believe.
Michele,
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry about your father-in-love. Sounds so painful!
May God touch him in his pain and give him a blessed healing.
Tell him to quit dancing on the wood floors in his socks!!!
Michele, how is he doing tonight?
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I'm going to call you in a New York minute. Whatever that means, ha. You place me in the story and I love that! So much to ponder and wonder!
I picture Joanne sitting on the side of the bed held by her caretakers bent on their job to move those muscles that have been silenced. And there He is right there next to her. So grateful to Him for awakening His daughter. I can't imagine how Toben must feel to see life come out of her lifeless body.
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