For Such a Reply…

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

For Such a Reply…

Date: Apr. 25, 2022

Passage

Mark 7:24-30 (ESV)

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 7:29

And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”

Jesus left Capernaum and went to the vicinity of Tyre, a region where Gentiles lived. The intention may have been to go to a solitary place, but as soon as he went into a house, a woman with a daughter possessed with an impure spirit came for help. Jesus said he could not take children's bread and throw it to the dogs. Instead of taking Jesus' words as an insult, the woman replied that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the children's table. Her reply was an expression of her faith in Jesus.

She called Jesus the 'Lord,' recognizing his sovereignty. She recognized the Jews' privilege as God's chosen people, but she trusted in the Lord, whose love extended to all. Children may be a priority, but the master takes care of the whole household, including a little dog sitting under the table. When the woman needed the grace of Jesus, she did not care whether the grace was a chunk of bread or crumbs falling off the table.

Jesus blessed the woman who gave such a reply and let her go home to her daughter, who was freed from the impure spirit.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, you are the sovereign Lord, and you show your grace even though I am an undeserving sinner. I ask for your grace each day. May you show even crumbs of grace so my loved ones can be healed.

One Word: One Word: Reply of faith.

The Lord Speaks

2 Kings 19:20-37

Key Verse: 19:34

For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”

Today's Question

What is sanctification?

See answer and references