April 28, 2009 Irresistible Faith
Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15
Scripture Focus:
Matthew 15:25, 28 Then she came and worshiped Him saying, “Lord, help me!” . . . Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Observation:
A Canaanite woman came to Jesus asking for healing for her daughter. For some reason, Jesus ignored her, so she tried again. This time she worshiped him and said “Lord, help me!”
Charlie tells me that the word worship is used interchangeably for the act of worship as we tend to think of it today—praising and praying—and for bowing down before someone, which is probably what she did here. Such a posture indicates a subservient relationship, where the one bowing acknowledges the supremacy of the one worshiped.
Jesus still doesn’t fulfill her request, but he at least starts talking to her, and she answers in a way that shows her humility and understanding of her position before Jesus. Jesus finally says, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”
Application:
Faith is irresistible to Jesus! When he sees great faith, he comments on it. Also on the lack of faith.
I shouldn’t give up when it feels like God is ignoring my request. Sometimes all he wants to see is that I have enough faith to press through.
Prayer:
Abba Father, I need your help, too. Give me the faith to press through to you today.
