Tag: Beg

Undeserving, But Blessed

Matthew 15:21-28

During His brief, yet profound and impactful ministry in the earth, Jesus had taken on a reputation for Himself that blew up like the skies during July 4th celebrations. While it’s recorded, Jesus came not to make himself a reputation, His actions and obedience to God’s will, set Him apart from all who ever walked the face of earth. People from nations far and wide, had heard of the miraculous things that were done by the hands of the Son of God, and waited with great anticipation, for Him to cross their path.

In nearly every city He visited, there awaited Him some who were in desperate need of the power that flowed through Him, and our text mentions a woman, who was willing to go against tradition, so that healing could come to her house. When the woman came to Jesus, crying for help, His insensitive disciples told Him to send her away. I wonder, where the love was in them that Jesus spoke of consistently? Unfortunately, it is possible to become so spiritually minded, until you neglect real needs right before you. The disciples’ words could have turned the woman away, but she wasn’t leaving until her request was granted.

Not only were the disciples insensitive to the woman’s need, but it seemed as though Jesus was also when He said, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs.” (vs. 26). Let’s be real! If Jesus called you a dog, to your face, how would you respond? To clarify, Jesus wasn’t referring to the woman as a dog, but was simply comparing how Jews considered pagan people, with His own judgment. I love this woman, because she was willing to be called a dog, if only to see her daughter healed. She didn’t argue, nor respond in offense, but accepted her position, and was called by Jesus, a woman of great faith!

The next time you make a request to God, be sure to do it in humility, because no one deserves any good thing from the Father, but because of grace and the blood of Jesus, we can come before His throne with boldness.

“He didn’t have to do it, but I’m grateful He did.” – Ell

Have Mercy On Me!

Matthew 18:23-35

The body of Christ is, by default, subject to the authority of the almighty God. The God who created the heaven and the earth, is the supreme ruler, and all who are under His supremacy, have been tasked with maintaining certain duties and standards that befit His expectations. For instance, the Bible teaches that God is love, so those who claim to be His children should find it comely to walk according to the standard of God’s love also. The God of all creation is also patient, kind, and full of mercy, and these same character traits should be consistently seen amongst those who serve under Him.

It’s interesting to note, God not only expects His people to align themselves with His Word, but He continually monitors how each and every believer conducts themselves, in every situation and circumstance they face. It’s amazing how we soon forget the mercy that was shown unto us, when we are met with the challenge to be merciful to someone else. Our text displays this instance vividly in the parable Jesus presented to those following after Him. Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a king, who takes account of how his servants handle the talents he bestows to them. Apparently, those who served the king were expected to use what they were given, and multiply it, to prove their loyalty and dedication to his cause. One servant obviously mishandled what he was given, and owed a great debt to the king. Thankfully, the king had mercy on the servant, and removed his judgment to have him and all his family sold, and he was not expected to pay the debt. Wow! If you owed someone a whole lot of money, and faced years in prison, how would you conduct yourself, after finding out all charges were dropped, and you didn’t have to pay back anything?

You’d think anyone granted a blessing of that magnitude would forever be grateful, and use caution when dealing with others, but some people never learn. Moments after being relieved of his great debt, the servant ran into someone who owed him a few dollars. Now, from what was mentioned previously, it would seem obvious how this situation should turn out, but I’ve learned that the obvious isn’t always obvious lol. Rather than extend mercy toward the one who owed only a few dollars, the delusional servant ironically took the man by the throat, and demanded payment immediately! Be careful how you treat others, because in those moments you don’t think anyone’s watching you… there’s someone watching you lol. Someone close to the two servants saw the uncomfortable scene take place, then reported the story to the king. The servant who was granted mercy beyond measure, failed to render that same mercy to someone else who desired it. Thus, judgment was returned to him, but worse than before.

Be careful how you treat those who seek mercy from you, because if you think back long and hard enough, you’ll remember those moments when you needed mercy too.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

Ell