In my devotions today, the account of the Syro-Pheonician woman was referenced. This woman was part of a society that was fully aware that they were not the “chosen people”. At this point in the Bible, salvation and grace had not been extended to all people as it was later in Jesus’ sacrifice, which made it possible for both the Jew and the Gentile to come before the Lord. They had no law put in place to bring them to God such as the Israelites, and they had no hope of a Saviour to help them. It was not only the Israelites who regarded these people as below them- I think that this society also felt as though they were not worth much. Yet when this woman heard that Jesus was near, she knew that He could be her only hope. She was so moved by the desperation of her daughter’s situation, that it gave her the courage to step out on her faith and fall at His feet. We know the rest of the story- Jesus called her a dog to her face, yet she still persisted and asked for mere crumbs of His grace to be given to her. The Lord had mercy on her and healed her daughter right there.
The Bible passage that most of the devotion was based upon today however, was in Galatians 3. Paul teaches that we are not under the law any more but under grace, and shows that the wall between Jew and Gentile has been broken down, giving us all a way to our Saviour. None of us are regarded as “dogs” any more- as Paul says we are all now joint heirs of Christ. We are all now able to come to the banqueting table and feast on more than crumbs- the feast has been prepared for us to partake freely of the riches of God!
This got me to thinking… when this woman knew she wasn’t entitled to anything from Jesus, she still had the faith to go and receive what was not yet promised to her. She received healing for her daughter. Lately I have been looking at God’s promises for healing, which are all through the Scripture and available for all to claim.
Yet so many times we see people not believing God in this area, too content to sit things through and put their faith in earthly things around them. We, who have been promised healing and countless other promises can’t exhibit even a fraction of the faith shown in the “dog” woman! If just a crumb of God’s mercies equaled at least a healing and a deliverance, what does the whole feast of God mean for us?
It convicted me. It was as though God was putting a magnifying glass over my heart and showing how big I often make my problems seem, when truly it is just takes crumb of God’s goodness in that area. How many times have I forgoed God’s feast for me? How often does His church disregard God’s plentiful promises to them?
I want to encourage you to come to God’s banqueting table today. Stuff yourselves with His goodness; bring containers for that which you cannot digest yet! Partake of what God has prepared for us- His desire is for us to come into His presence for that reason and so many more!
Eat of the meat of God’s Word today.
In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Mark 7:25-30
Galatians 3:7-29
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14
He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus 15:2
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Psalm 107:19-21
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Psalm 100:2
“Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:15b
This got me to thinking… when this woman knew she wasn’t entitled to anything from Jesus, she still had the faith to go and receive what was not yet promised to her. She received healing for her daughter. Lately I have been looking at God’s promises for healing, which are all through the Scripture and available for all to claim.
Yet so many times we see people not believing God in this area, too content to sit things through and put their faith in earthly things around them. We, who have been promised healing and countless other promises can’t exhibit even a fraction of the faith shown in the “dog” woman! If just a crumb of God’s mercies equaled at least a healing and a deliverance, what does the whole feast of God mean for us?
It convicted me. It was as though God was putting a magnifying glass over my heart and showing how big I often make my problems seem, when truly it is just takes crumb of God’s goodness in that area. How many times have I forgoed God’s feast for me? How often does His church disregard God’s plentiful promises to them?
I want to encourage you to come to God’s banqueting table today. Stuff yourselves with His goodness; bring containers for that which you cannot digest yet! Partake of what God has prepared for us- His desire is for us to come into His presence for that reason and so many more!
Eat of the meat of God’s Word today.
In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Mark 7:25-30
Galatians 3:7-29
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14
He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus 15:2
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Psalm 107:19-21
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Psalm 100:2
“Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:15b
