Sunday 2 Mar 2014

Sunday Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

Key Verse: Matthew 15:27
And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Devotion:
I do like the way that Jesus would question peoples commitment before He answered their prayers. I do not believe that He did this to make sure that they did have commitment but rather for each person to think about their own commitment before they had their answer from Him. If Jesus answered their request, as in this case, then He would have shown them that their faith was greater than they had believed – something we all doubt at times. If He did not answer their request, then He would first show them that they lacked faith.

Jesus is not just going to answer each prayer lifted up to Him because many people do not have faith and yet they shout out prayers to a god in case there is one listening. That is not faith, but that is showing signs of hope. Faith is the depending on that hope as the correct and truthful answer. Christ is looking for us to depend on our faith and not to have a little hope that floats around in the wind. Our faith needs to be anchored to a rock and that rock is Christ Himself!

You may well notice that Jesus also used each opportunity to open the eyes of the disciples and other Jews around Him when He answered prayers. In this case a gentile woman had come to ask Him for help; she firmly believed in God and in Christ as the Son of God. Jesus’ initial words were to say that He had come to save the Jews and that she was not a Jew. Her reaction was to say that she may be viewed as a dog who runs round under the table getting what crumbs it can, but that she came there because she knew there would be crumbs.

If we do not think of ourselves as being worthy or faithful or having enough faith, then we need to go back and read such verses from our bibles. They will make us realise that Christ answers prayers of the faithful no matter what society or race or country they are from. Christ is looking for people who rely on their prayers to be answered because they are showing faith in Him.

Points to Ponder:
Do you doubt?

Is your faith anchored on Christ?