July 9, 2009
How Persistent Are You?
Jesus took His disciples to the seacoast towns of Tyre and Sidon (Matt. 15:21) probably to rest (Mark 7:24). As far as we can tell, He had no intention of preaching or healing in that area.
But as so often happens when one has no intention of being available, someone interrupted His vacation. Today, phone calls prove to be the major source of interruptions. But in ancient times it was worse: interruptions arrived at one’s doorstep and stayed until someone answered.
In this instance, a woman who supposedly had no claim on Jesus’ attention begged Him to deliver her daughter from demons. She had probably already tried to heal the girl and failed. In ancient societies, women usually tended the sick and nursed the dying.
Jesus hardly encouraged this woman. As He pointed out, she had no ethnic or religious claim on Him. But somehow she recognized that He was capable of doing what she could not – heal her daughter. In the end, her courage, faith, and sheer persistence won out.
How persistent are you in crying out to God for people who matter a lot to you? Like the woman, will you keep coming back to God in faith?
For the kingdom,
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