(Mat 15:28 ISV) Then Jesus answered her, “Lady, your faith is great! What you want is granted.” That very hour her daughter was healed.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” We will close out this week by closing out the story of the Syro–Phoenician woman and her demon-possessed daughter. This woman is amazing to me. In essence, her faith interrupted Jesus’ plans and it led Him to do something He would not have done otherwise. Let me explain.
When you read the Bible you should attempt to understand who is writing, to whom, and for what purpose, in order to understand the context. In addition to context, culture plays a major role in understanding scripture. Jesus was a Jew. He was born a Jew and He spent most of his life ministering to Jews. This is not to say that Jesus did not come for all people, but we must understand the cultural setting of the time. When Jesus ministered to the Roman Centurion’s servant, it was not the norm. When this Syro–Phoenician woman came begging for a breakthrough, the disciples did not think twice before asking Jesus to send her away. When Jesus was compelled to go through Samaria to minister to the woman at the well, even the woman was surprised. She questioned why Jesus (a Jew) would ask her (a Samaritan) for some water, because Jews had no dealing with Samaritans. So the cultural and social climate of the time was obviously divided, much like it still is today. But my point is that Jesus did not come with a focus on serving as a social activist. Jesus came to get us out of the mess Adam created. Adam left us a legacy of sin and Jesus came to establish a legacy of righteousness. Jesus paid the penalty for Adam’s transgression and through Jesus Christ all men can be saved and receive eternal life. That was Jesus’ focus. Did Jesus love all people? Absolutely! Did Jesus want all people to be saved? No question. But the primary focus of His ministry was not centered on racial or cultural divisions. The ministry to the Gentiles did not truly ramp up until halfway through the book of Acts, when Paul started his ministry.
Understanding the context and culture, this makes what the Syro–Phoenician woman did even more powerful. Everything God does for us is done by His grace, but we access the grace through faith. The woman by no means earned her daughter’s deliverance; it was clearly done by the grace of God. But without question, this woman accessed the grace with her faith. Without this exceptional level of faith, which Jesus called “great,” the grace would not have been extended to her and her daughter in this situation. So in a time when Jesus was going around ministering primarily to Jews, by the grace of God, this woman tapped into that grace with her exceptional faith. And when Jesus said something that could have easily been insulting, this woman had the internal strength to resist the urge to get offended, so she could remain in faith and receive her breakthrough.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Everything God does for you is done by His amazing grace. You can never earn anything God does for you. It’s not because of your righteousness; it’s because of His goodness.
2. Your faith is the conduit through which you access the grace of God. This is why it is so very important that you keep your faith switch in the “ON” position.
3. If you ever allow yourself to get offended, your faith switch will fall into the “OFF” position and you will fail to access the grace.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this Word. I learn from the Syro–Phoenician woman. I seek to operate in the same level of determination and faith. When faced with a challenge I cannot overcome, I know You can. There is nothing You cannot do. I tap into Your limitless ability by accessing Your grace through faith. I keep my faith switch in the “ON” position daily and I never allow anything or anyone to cause me to get outside of LOVE. Faith works by LOVE, and I know that if I get offended, or fall outside of LOVE in any way, that my faith will not work and I will not be able to access Your grace. Therefore, I am committed to live by faith every day of my life and living by faith requires me to live by LOVE! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
