06/09/2024
Yesterday we contemplated a faithful mother who sought a miracle for her daughter (Mat 25:22-28). The persistence of that mother caught the attention of Jesus and left us with a lesson for all time. When every hope is dashed and desperation appears to be our closest friend... that is when we should cling most to our faith... that is when prayer can bring the most amazing things to bear… even a stronger faith.
“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
Matthew 15:28 KJV
I have had moments in my life when it appeared that my world was crumbling, children in jeopardy, my strength failing in the waters of a lake, but in those moments of greatest desperation and suffering God heard my prayers and delivered my family and me. Faith; it comes to the surface when our lives are being dashed. Then, as if in a butter churn, our faith is mixed with the salt of many tearful prayers, rises to the surface like fresh butter, and is made ready to be beautifully molded.
In our bible story this morning a Canaanite mother found in herself a faith born of desperation, and by persistently pursuing Jesus that faith won His attention and the life of her daughter. Of further interest to me is that after answering her prayer He just went His way; no command that she “sin no more”, or “follow me”... He just went his way. Was her faith such that it didn't require anything further of Him? We will never know because she isn't mentioned again in scripture.
“Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.”
Matthew 15:29 ESV
This morning when we pray, let's pursue Jesus with this same fervency and faith in our prayers as the woman of Canaan. And, as we pray let's not only pray simply for our own desperate needs, but also remember those of others around us who are also in desperate straits and are feverishly churning the butter of their own faith as it is born from that moment when all else has failed them. Let's capture the attention of our Savior with the rising faith of our suffering, and serve him newly baked bread that is covered with this freshly churned butter of our prayers… the fresh formed faith of our efforts.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today. Thank you for hearing and answering those that are rather trivial, but most of all Father, thank you for hearing those born out of our desperation... and which are full of the makings of a great new faith. Spare not the dasher, and give strength to the arms of our prayers as we exercise them repeatedly at the churn of our longing. Help us Lord in our disbelief, and to find renewed strength and righteousness as we humbly kneel before you. Great are you our God, and greatly to be praised because nothing is possible if not through You, and yet everything is possible in you as we lay our love, praise, and worship, at your feet, and offer you the sweet buttered bread of our belief and faithfulness. Hear now our prayers, for not only ourselves, but for the renewed faith of so many who seek your mercy and grace from within the various storms that rage about them. Bless us with your response to our prayers Abba, and with your undying love that flows over us without reservation or end. Praised be your Holy Name, and the name of your Son Jesus; long suffering be our prayers, and enduring our patience as we weep in prayer and contrition before you. Hear us, help us, and receive for yourself all the glory found in or new formed and strengthened faith.
Amen!
“And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”
Matthew 15:21-28 ESV
Rich Forbes