JESUS SPEAKING

                Then Jesus went from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Caanan came from that region and cried out to him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon possessed.”  But he answered her not a word.  And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

                But he answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

                Then she came and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

                But he answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

                And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters table.”

                Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire!”  And her daughter was healed from that very hour (Mathew 15: 21-28.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                In Jewish culture, dogs were considered dirty animals that scavenged for food; they rummaged through garbage and fed off of the scraps that people refused to eat.  The Jews commonly referred to non-Jews (gentiles) as dogs.  Jesus identified the begging woman as a dog; he told her his priority was the lost Children of Israel.  How did she react to being called a dog?  She was not insulted nor did she turn away.  The woman humbly persisted; she accepted being a dog, but refused to accept no from Jesus.  He grants her desired request, and praises her for her faith.  [Note:  Jesus literally referred to himself as the “bread from heaven;” God provided his Son as a heavenly meal for His people.  Many chose to eat what God had provided; many however rejected God’s super.  Today, Christians who are not Jewish have been blessed to eat the crumbs (leftovers) that have fallen from His ‘table.’  Because Jesus was rejected by many Jews, God was gracious enough to allow anyone who was hungry to eat ‘The bread of life.’]

                When I was a small child, we ate meals around a dining room table.  Our dog, Brutis, was an overeager collie that waited in the wings for my mother to leave the room.  My mother would ask us to eat all of our food, which we of course did not enjoy.  When she left we whistled and lowered our plates.  Brutis would come and lick the plates clean.  By the time my mother returned, it appeared as though some of us had finished our meal.  He was more than happy to eat what we had rejected; he enjoyed the food that was meant for us; he never once complained about get leftovers, or not being able to sit at the table.

                Many people today believe that the Jewish people no longer matter.  Many people have rejected them, just as many of their people have rejected Christ.  Yet, the Jewish people are still important to God; they were a priority to Jesus, and they are still a priority to God today.  Jesus Christ grew up in a Jewish home.  John, Peter, Paul, and the rest of the writers of the New Testament were all Jewish.  The first thing Paul did when he reached a new city was, he walked straight in to the synagogue and proclaimed the gospel to the Jewish people.  Only after they had rejected the message did he reach out to the gentiles.  Jesus himself made it clear that the 12 Jewish disciples would rule 12 thrones in the coming Kingdom.  Does the idea of being ruled over by Jews upset you?  If it does, there is some pride still left in you.  But to those who are willing to humble themselves, and acknowledge their place, as the woman did in this scripture, you will receive what she received; the desires of your heart! (Note:  Christians and Jews who believe in Christ are brothers, and have equal access to God today; we are one in Christ Jesus.)

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Jewish people, and for Your plan in saving many of them through Your Son.  We love them, because we love You.  We desire that we might all, Jew and Gentile alike, accept Your message in humility, knowing that we do not deserve Your grace; we are but lowly dogs; but dogs who desire to be in a relationship with You.  Please do not deny us Father.  We love You, we thank You, and we praise You; and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

             “Take heed to yourselves.  If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17: 3-4.)               

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

             Jesus warned of the danger of unforgiveness; it is dangerous to not forgive, because God’s forgiveness of our sins is dependent upon our forgiveness those who have sinned against us.  He said, “But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.”  How many times is a person obligated to forgive another?  Jesus used the number seven because in the Hebrew culture it was symbolic of completeness; a disciple of Christ is obligated to forgive an infinite amount of times.  Since the beginning of creation men and women have been running to God to ask Him for forgiveness.  Not a single person who has ever asked Him has been denied; we must do as our Father does.  (In this scripture there are also two persons who must take action; the sinner, and the one who has been sinned against.  The one who has been harmed must confront the one who has harmed them.  In turn, the one who has sinned is obligated to repent and ask for forgiveness.  [Note:  Even if the other person doesn’t repent, it is good for a true believer to forgive them completely.  While Jesus hung on the cross the religious leaders teased him; they were not repentant, but Jesus said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”  We have our example in Christ.])

             Some months ago, I discovered that my car had been vandalized; the stereo had been stolen along with a $150 watch, and a small MP3 player.  After realizing what had happened I was very angry.  But my heart was immediately in communication with God.  The Holy Spirit revealed to me that God had forgiven me of so many sins that I had no right to refuse to forgive the vandals.  A warm feeling came over me, and the anger was swept away like a grain of sand caught in the flow of a mighty river.  I prayed that their lives would be transformed and that they would come to know Jesus Christ; since then I have never wished them any harm.

             To what extent should we forgive others; Jesus has taught us that we should be like him, and forgive all those who need to be forgiven.  We who have been forgiven of so much, have no right to withhold forgiveness from others.  Search your heart; if you know of anyone you haven’t forgiven, you need to forgive them.  You may also need to confront them, and give them the opportunity to repent and ask to be forgiven (follow the leading of The Spirit.)  May the Lord show you any resentment you are harboring, and may He give you the strength to let go of your hatred in favor of forgiveness.

             “Lord Heavanly Father, we come to You and ask for Your forgiveness for all of the sins we have committed.  We desire to be like You, and to forgive like You.  Help us to forgive others from our hearts.  If there is anyone that we have not forgiven, we ask that You reveal it to us now, and help us to be obediant  to You in confronting them of their sin if You so desire; and help us to let go of any hatred we are clinging too.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

             Therefore they said to him, “What sign will you perform then, that we may see it and believe you?  Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 

            Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to world.” 

            Then they said to him, “Lord give us this bread always.” 

            And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6: 30-35.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                In the dessert, after leaving Egypt, the Israelites lacked the two most essential things for survival; food and water.  Yet God, who had led them in to the wilderness made provision for these needs.  Daily, God sent down a strange dew from heaven that settled on the desert floor; they ate the substance and were filled (the Israelites named it ‘manna,’ which means, ‘What is it?’  They didn’t know what it was; later they began to refer to it as ‘the bread from heaven.’  No matter the name, it kept them alive.)  God also miraculously provided water for them out of the rocky dessert ground.  Moses (God’s chosen messenger/prophet) led his people in the wilderness for nearly 40 years.  He became a historical figure revered by the nation of Israel.  During the time of Christ, the people did not fully understand who Jesus was; they mistakenly began to associate him with Moses; as if he were just another messenger (prophet) of God; but Jesus was not a messenger (prophet); he was the message.  The Israelites would have died in the desert if God had not provided them with ‘the bread from heaven;’ similarly everyone who does not accept God’s provision in the form of Jesus Chris (‘the true bread from heaven’) will also die.  God lives eternally and does not associate with the dead; to truly know God, one must also receive eternal life.  Only Jesus Christ can give life to those who are dying.

                Gangrene is a condition that occurs when some large portion of body tissue begins to die and needs to be amputated.  In construction, many people sever fingers and rush to the hospital to have them reattached.  From the time a finger is separated from the body, it begins to die (unless it is reconnected quickly it will become rancid.  Many reattachments fail; the limb begins to rot, and needs to be removed to prevent death from spreading to the rest of the body.  Every human being is a dying limb that has been severed from God.  There is only one way to be reattached to Him.  The dead must be brought to life; the sick must be healed, and new life must flow in to a lifeless Spirit.  Jesus Christ is new life; only through him can we truly be joined to the eternal God.

                How do we get reconnected to the living God?  We must turn to God and accept Jesus Christ as His message to the world.  Only Jesus can quench our thirst; only Jesus can fill us up when nothing else will; only Jesus can make our dead hearts come alive again.  If you feel him calling to you, know that God is reaching out through him.  He loves you, and He wants to spend an eternity with you.  Will you accept his gift, or will you refuse it?  The greatest act of love God has ever given us, is the freedom to choose.  Make your choice; decide for yourself; choose your path; and may that path lead to eternal life.

                “Lord Heavenly Father we so desperately desire new life.  We want to spend an eternity with You.  We believe that Your Son is the message and not just the messenger; and we accept Your invitation.  May we share Your heart and be filled with love and kindness.  Help us to be committed to You and to avoid the things that can lead to death.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.