Skip to main content

Confidence

“The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.” Matthew 15:25

If you take time to read the context of this desperate cry, you will find a mother who is seeking help for her daughter. It’s terrible, the demonic attacks on her. Desperation breeds persistence. Jesus remains silent for He did not want to go against what the Father directed, which was to begin with and focus on the Jews and later the Gospel would spread to the Gentiles. And they were right now in Gentile territory and this desperate mother did not fit His current assignment. Or did she?

God always responds to confident faith. The confidence was not in herself or her goodness. Her desperate cry was from a heart that knew Jesus was the only answer. And that confident faith acknowledged the priority set by the Father (the Jews) while saying that even the children’s dogs get a few crumbs from the table. I think Jesus smiled. She understood but her banter demonstrated great faith. And He immediately healed her daughter.

Her confidence was in a person, not her faith. In her heart, only the Lord could help her. Only the Lord could heal her daughter. Only the Lord. So, she persisted in her pursuit of the Lord.

Do we persist in pursuing the Lord or if it appears He is ignoring us or inexplicably remaining silent do we turn away? The morsels are waiting at His table for all who have confidence in Him!

Prayer Focus: Lord, help us to demonstrate persistent confidence in Your Lordship today, even when we feel like You may be ignoring us. Thank You for the morsels that come from Your table.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Storyteller

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 These are the last words Jesus speaks to his Apostles just before ascending into heaven. Not what they were expecting. They were wondering when Jesus was going to set up His Kingdom on earth. As He was ascending into heaven He reveals we are the ones to accomplish the task. Jesus’ departure is not desertion; it is a commission to be the storytellers of truth to the rest of the world. Frequently, we look at this scripture in relationship to our life. We perceive Jerusalem as our own community, Judea as our city, Samaria as our country and the ends of the earth as the world. Christ informed the apostles they will have the power of the Holy Spirit to reach these people. Notice the word “and...” Jesus didn’t say...

Generosity Draws

“And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:33-37 I had the opportunity recently to offer something of value to some friends. It was passes to a golf tournament. I only had two, so I started checking with them one at a time. The first several were not able to take advantage of them, but something struck me. In declining, each of them expressed appreciation. Generosity had touched them. Joseph from Cyprus was a generous person. It was shown in two ways. He was generous with his possessions. He sold some property he owned to provide for needy people. And he was so gen...

The Baptism that Divides

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:49-51 Jesus was feeling the weight of His passion, the baptism of His death. What that baptism was going to release is anything but peace. There is and will be great division between people because of Christ. Rejection by family and friends, within families, deep divisions of world views. The fire of the purging of sin in our lives and the establishment of the righteousness He desires to release is evident. And it will continue until the end of time. We often think of the meekness and gentleness of Jesus. But never forget that He is also holy, righteous and just. And one day everyone, by faith or by force, will acknowledge Him as Lord. Prayer Focus: Jesus, thank You for carrying the weight of justice for each of us. Thank You for...