Sunday, July 11, 2010

Morning reading

Matthew 15:21-28 (TNIV)

21 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 from that very hour.

My thoughts -

It is interesting to compare this woman's approach to Jesus to that of the Pharisees earlier. The Pharisees approach Jesus to correct, trap, and condemn him. He has nothing they think they need. They want Jesus to be more like them.

The woman approaches Jesus knowing that she needs him. She knows that she needs Jesus to intervene, she knows that she is not worthy, and she has faith that he will help her even though she does not deserve it.

Grace is a gift. We approach God humbly knowing we're not worthy. In fact, often that realization is the only thing that leads us to try.

If I were self sufficient I wouldn't need Jesus. If I could do this on my own I wouldn't ask. If I were worthy it wouldn't be necessary.

But here I am again, like a dog begging for scraps from the table. Lord help me!

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