Month: September 2020

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:28

Great Faith

Daily Devotion – September 4, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 15:28

See series: Devotions

Only twice in the Bible does Jesus call someone’s faith great. Was he talking about Peter or James or John on those occasions? Actually, when addressing his closest disciples, we hear him often say, “O you of little faith.” When he was highlighting great faith, he once was referring to a Roman Centurion. The other time he was talking to this Canaanite woman.

The woman’s daughter was demon-possessed. Doctors and home remedies were of no use. Only Jesus could help. Here’s where the “great faith” comes in. The Canaanite woman was humble. She realized she wasn’t entitled to good things from God so she offered a heartfelt plea, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me”… and knelt before him. “Lord help me!” She was persistent. Even when the disciples wanted to send her away, she continued to stand by Jesus. And most of all, she was dependent on Jesus. After all, it wasn’t her faith that healed her daughter. It wasn’t some kind of internal personal energy that drove her daughter’s demon away. It was Jesus, and Jesus alone. The Canaanite woman showed great faith by having a great dependency on Jesus.

What circumstances will challenge your faith today? What burdens are hard for you to carry? What worries occupy your inmost thoughts? Doctors and home remedies can sometimes help, but they have limitations. Only Jesus will walk with you every step of the way. Only Jesus deserves to be on the receiving end of your humble pleas, your persistent prayers, and your total dependency.

Do you have great faith? There’s no gauge or scale to measure that. In fact, the question is a bit misleading. It implies an emphasis on us. Instead, as you face today and whatever challenges that arise, be dependent on Jesus. He is great. His love for you is great. His interest in your life is great. His ability to bless you even when things look bleak is great. You are in great hands.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, strengthen my reliance and dependency on you. When I am weak, make me strong. When I am lonely, assure me of your presence. When I am down, lift me up with your promise to love and forgive. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Matthew 15:25-27

An Odd Conversation

Daily Devotion – September 3, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 15:25-27

See series: Devotions

What an odd conversation. One certainly doesn’t expect Jesus to carry on like this. He’s loving and kind. He is the one who welcomes sinners and tax collectors, isn’t he? Is he being rude, or is there something more here?

Something more, to be sure! For starters, it was Jesus’ idea to go to this region in the first place. This woman’s daughter was suffering from demon possession, and Jesus was going to help her. But first, before the miraculous healing, he would give her an opportunity to exercise her faith and, in the process, give us an inspiring example of trust.

Here’s the recap. The woman approaches Jesus. He ignores her. She kneels before him asking for help. He refers to her as a dog, implying she was not a rightful member of the Jewish family. And she replies, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs.”

In other words, she was saying: Jesus, I agree with you. I don’t deserve your love. I’m a sinner who is not worthy to approach your table, much less sit beside you. I’m not a direct descendant of Abraham, but I am his child by faith. But you, Jesus, have promised salvation for all people. I am clinging to that promise, even though some could get the impression you don’t care. I know you do care because you have made a promise to love all people and offer up your life as a sacrifice for the sins of all people. Have mercy on me, Lord.

Oh, how I want her words to be my words!

Jesus wasn’t showing indifference; he was exercising her faith. In the face of opposition, the Canaanite woman didn’t run away; she ran to Jesus. She didn’t sit on a bed of self-pity; she stood on the sure promises of Jesus.

Oh, how I want to stand where she stood—on the promises of Jesus!

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for promising to be with me today. When testing comes, help me run to you. Help me find rest and comfort in your promises. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 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.” 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.”
Matthew 15:21-23

Jesus Is For All People

Daily Devotion – September 2, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 15:21-23

See series: Devotions

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is for all people! Perhaps that’s why we see Jesus intentionally leaving the area of Galilee and withdrawing to an area populated heavily by people who did not have a lot of opportunities to hear about him. If there was a mission field, Jesus would enter it. If there were people in need of support, Jesus would seek them out.

The immediate comfort is this:

• No matter what your ethnicity, your background, your physical characteristics—Jesus is for you!
• No matter how much (or little) you know about the Bible—Jesus wants to have a meaningful relationship with you!
• No matter where you live or what vocation you have—Jesus loves you and wants to draw you ever closer to him!

Jesus’ disciples apparently did not get that memo.

We often learn from others what NOT to do. The disciples provide a prime example. How did they react to this woman in need? “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” Were they too busy or too tired? Did they think themselves too important to deal with ordinary people with ordinary problems?

I don’t know the answer, but I do know I don’t want to be heartless and distant when I deal with the people around me. I don’t want to be so self-absorbed with my own life that I miss opportunities to be kind and generous to others. In fact, maybe the Lord will place someone into my life today who just may need a helping hand or a listening ear. Maybe he’ll do the same for you.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for seeking me out, finding me, and giving me an opportunity to learn about your love. You were not too busy for me. Help me, Lord, to never be too busy or too distracted for those around me. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.
Isaiah 56:8

Welcome to the Club

Daily Devotion – September 1, 2020

Devotion based on Isaiah 56:8

See series: Devotions

Some clubs are easier to get into than others. In many cases, you fill out the form, pay the annual fee, and you’re in! Not so with the Hurlingham Club in London, touted as one of the most exclusive clubs in the world–especially if you like polo, golf, and being treated like royalty. The bad news? Currently, there’s a 30-year waiting list before one could even be considered for membership. That’s pretty exclusive!

Exclusivity. You’d think if there was ever a club or group that could claim elite status and keep commoners and riff-raff at bay, it would be the family of God. Instead, he throws the doors open and exclaims, I will gather still others.

700 years before the time of Christ, Isaiah spoke of God not keeping the riff-raff away but inviting them into his personal household. The promises God made to Abraham and his descendants would spill over to people of all nations, of every tribe and language. God doesn’t want to keep anyone out; he wants all people to be brought in.

Jesus made that clear too. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen,” he said. “I must bring them also” (John 10:16). That same Good Shepherd who sought to bring more and more sheep into his fold didn’t just seek them out, he paid their entrance fee in full. The apostle John spoke of that all-inclusive sacrifice—”He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).

Guess what? You and I will never belong to the Hurlingham Club. In fact, there are probably a thousand clubs that are too exclusive for us, too rich for our blood, and too out of our reach. The good news? Jesus has removed your sins. He has paid your way in full. He wants you to have all the perks and blessings of his family. Welcome to the club!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for seeking me out and saving me. As a forgiven member of your family, use me in your task of seeking out and saving others. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.