December 11, 2016
Scripture:
Read Ephesians 1:20 - 23. These verses are actually a parenthetical statement. We are members of the body of Christ, which brings all believers together. And may we not forget that there is a Head of this body: the Lord and Saviour. He completes the body. What a blessed One to have! How much blessing we have through His work at Calvary!
Hymn 112 - Naught have I gotten but what I received
Prayer
You might not think that the Lord would ever insult anyone, but it might seem as if He insults the woman in our story today. Let’s take a look.
Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon, and while there a Canaanite woman came to Him with a problem. This woman was not of the Children of Israel; and, in fact, her people should have been destroyed back when the Israelites captured the Promised Land. However, she was distraught because her daughter had a demon, and so she asked Jesus to have mercy on them and heal her. Should Jesus have done that? This woman was a Gentile, a Canaanite, but she had called Jesus as “Son of David.” David was a King of the Jews; and as the Son of David, Jesus had come to minister to the Jews. He had been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and though this woman may have been lost, she was not of the house of Israel.
However, Jesus said nothing to the woman at first. Doesn’t it seem insulting to just ignore her? It was only after the disciples said something that Jesus spoke. They asked Him to send this woman away. It’s like they were saying, “Get rid of her. She’s a nuisance; just a Gentile.” That’s nasty. Today, you would say they were racist. So Jesus finally spoke to the woman and said, “I’m only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That must have hurt. Here her daughter was in great need, she had come to Jesus for help, and He says, “I’m sorry, but you’re not the right kind of person.” You would think that this woman would just hang her head and go away.
But she doesn’t! Instead, she came and worshiped at Jesus’ feet. If calling Him the Son of David wouldn’t work, she would do whatever was necessary. She wanted what Jesus had. He may have only been the Son of David to the Jews, but He was Lord of everyone, and that is what she called Him.
Her prayer was only three words. We can think of them as links in a chain. “Lord” is the first link, “me” is the third link, and there are lots of words we can use as the second link to connect the Lord and us. She used the word “help.” “Lord help me.” Peter used “save” when he was sinking and cried, “Lord, save me!” We can use this golden chain, too. Don’t forget it. It’s powerful.
The Lord then basically called this woman a dog. He said, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs.” Ouch! Would she walk away insulted ? No! She actually agreed with the Lord. It’s like she said, “You’re right. I am just a Gentile dog.” It’s like we were singing, “I’m only a sinner saved by grace.” She had a good reply, though. She continued, “However, the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” The word “bread” here can also mean “loaf,” so what Jesus was saying was, “I can’t take one of the children’s loaves, and give it to you,” and she replied, “I’m not asking for a loaf, just a crumb will do. Just cast the demon out of my daughter.” She would not give up. Would Jesus send her away?
He didn’t. He said, “Woman, you have great faith.” It’s only recorded that Jesus said that twice, and both times it was to Gentiles. He couldn’t discourage this woman; if you tried to drive her away, she just kept coming back. The Lord healed her daughter, and she could go on her way rejoicing.
The Lord is merciful, and can do anything. This woman asked for healing, owned Jesus as Lord, recognized His power, and didn’t give up asking. Finally, the Lord basically said, “You can have whatever you want.” That’s precious. We, too are Gentiles, like this woman. We deserve nothing, but the Lord is willing to give us everything.
Colossians 4:2-18
We should be watching for opportunists to pray. We should be on the look out during the day. Sometimes it’s obvious; other times you have to look a little harder for it. We can join each other in the burden of prayer. Continue can be translated persevere. Paul is stressing the importance of prayer.
Prayer, here in verse two, seems to be supplication while, in verse three, it seems more like intercession, in this case for Paul and his ministry. We also have giving thanks for answered prayer. We should be watching for answers to our prayers. So, we have prayer, watching, and thanksgiving in one verse making quite a bundle. Prayer is important in the Christian’s life.
We can also pray for others. It’s easy to get discouraged when you pray, and pray about something and nothing happens. Then we need to also pray for courage and perseverance. Sometimes the Lord might not answer our prayer just so we can “bother” Him. He wants us to persevere in prayer.
The mystery of God was Paul’s ministry. He mentioned it in chapter one verse twenty-seven, and it’s still on his mind. It’s a dangerous ministry; it brought him into bonds, but he wouldn’t keep quiet about it. He told them, “Pray I do what I’m supposed to do”. Nothing was closing his mouth. He was looking for opportunities because he had all of Caesar’s house as his audience.
Walk is behavior. We must be conscious of it. This takes us back to the book of Proverbs. “Them that are without” are those who aren’t saved. The effect of our walk is to those without. There was a man who tried to give another man a tract. After asking what it was, he returned it saying, “Keep your tract, and I will watch you in you tracks”. Redeeming the time can be witnessing to others, and that requires wisdom. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. One might have memorized a lot of verses, but he needs to know when to use a verse. Another thing to realize is that every minute spent cannot be gotten back. Life is like a coin. You can only spend it once.
So, what is our speech like? Salt in scripture is like holiness. It extends graciousness, love, kindness, liberty, but it also knows its bounds. It’s not salt seasoned with grace. The exhortation is here, and we should pray for wisdom to know how. We are to have words fitly spoken. We need to pray we will know what to say and when to say it. We can’t take our words back.
Hymn 369 - I claim for my own a King on a throne
Prayer