The Children's Bread - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) January 7, 2025
Desperation can lead people to do unimaginable things, including things they aren't proud of. And yet, desperation can drive people to make choices that transform their lives and the lives of others for the better.
Nowhere is this better displayed than in the experience of a Greek woman from Tyre, which is in modern-day Lebanon. She had a demon-possessed daughter who needed healing. When she heard Jesus was visiting her area, she found Him and cried out for help.
Unlike with Jairus or the Centurion, Jesus didn't agree to heal the woman's daughter. Instead He noted He was sent to bless the children of God alone, saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). Undeterred, she continued to insist and He said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26).
Instead of being offended and getting petty, her next words displayed great humility and wisdom. “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (Matthew 15:27). 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).
Despite the supposed insult, Jesus rewarded this woman with something He Himself admitted belonged to a select group of people - the children of God. This was a group she acknowledged she didn't belong to. Why?
To teach the rest of us that desperation and firm faith in Him will produce positive results and fast track even an unbeliever into becoming a child of God who enjoys the benefits of sonship (Romans 8:15). This woman went from serving Greek deities to knowing without a doubt that Jesus was the Son of the only true God.
If you are yet to know Him, He wants you to enjoy the blessings reserved for those who belong to the Lord. This privilege is available even if you didn't previously believe in God or His Son. Jesus is in the business of changing people's minds and transforming lives, just as He did with this woman and her daughter.
What are you desperate for? Believe in Jesus and pour that desperation out at His feet. He is THE solution you need. Cry out to Him as the Greek woman did and ask Him to solve your most pressing problem. Today is the day to believe He can do it. Once you experience Jesus, allow Him to change you. If you submit to His changes, you will grow in the word and the ways of God, enjoying more of what is reserved for His daughters and sons.
Interested in becoming a child of God and enjoying the children's bread? The next post has more details. God bless you and I thank the Lord you have chosen to put your faith in Jesus.
To learn more, please read,
ALTAR CALL (long but please read)
God wants intimacy with each of us. This might not make sense to everyone immediately. After all, you might not think He has time for mortals. However, God is very interested in every aspect of our lives. He wants to be closer to us than our best friends are.
Those in a relationship with God - His children - experience signs and wonders. They even become the vessels of such miracles and get to testify to the power of God at work in them and for them.
Intimacy with God brings peace. It quiets the voices that want us to believe we aren't worth anything or won't amount to anything. God quiets the lying…