Matthew 15:25-28
25 But she came and began to kneel down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He replied, “It is not good (appropriate, fair) to take the [e]children’s bread and throw it to the [f]pet dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord; but even the pet dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their [young] masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in My power] is great; it will be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
This Canaanite woman would not take no for an answer, she had a demon possessed daughter, and she heard that Jesus was in town. Though not a Jew, she makes her way to find Jesus because she knew without any shadow of doubt that Jesus was able to make her daughter well. She kept following Jesus even though Jesus was not responding to her. I read this, and I thought, if this were me, would I still pursue, or would I get offended after trying a few times and walk away?
This woman insisted until it was now becoming embarrassing because she was following them shouting. Jesus basically dismissed her when He said that it was not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs. If it were, you would you still insist, or would you walk away in anger because this supposedly holy man had just called you a dog? Imagine the woman held on, and she had an answer for the statement Jesus had spoken.
Her faith gave her what she was looking for. Her daughter was made well, and Jesus said it was because of her faith.
Like this woman, you and I need to have the faith that holds on like a bulldog and never let’s go.
Jesus is passing by, what will you do?
Reflections
In what area of your life have you disqualified yourself because of a certain limitation?
Are you the kind of person who insists and keeps pursuing what you believe, or do you give up easily?
The woman had been dismissed by Jesus, but she kept at it, and she got what she needed. What lessons can you learn from her?
