Tag: Perseverance

When God doesn’t answer

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HIGHLIGHT

Matthew 15:27–28 (ESV): 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

EXPLAIN

The beginning of this chapter tells of conflict Jesus had with the Pharisees and and scribes over various religious traditions. Jesus explained to the people that what you put in your mouth did not defile you spiritually, but what came out of your mouth was what was ugly and unholy.

Jesus then went away from there to Tyre and Sidon, where mostly Gentiles were. A Canaanite woman approached Jesus for healing for her daughter. Jesus uncharacteristically ignored her and then insulted her. But he seems to have done so on purpose, to make a point to his disciples who appeared to have the same characteristic Jewish prejudice toward Gentiles.

The woman responded with great humility and earnestness. Jesus commander her for her great faith and granted her request.

APPLY

If Jesus were to insult us when we made an earnest request to him, would we respond with humility? Would we persevere till Jesus answered our request?

Another way of asking this question is… do we truly desire Jesus to answer our request, or we are more interested in keeping our respectability, our pride, our independence?

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, increase my faith. May I develop such a faith and confidence in you that I continue to seek you even when you don’t seem to answer or care. For I know of your great love for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spiritual Olympics

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HIGHLIGHT

Hebrews 12:11 (ESV): 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

EXPLAIN

Hebrews 12 is well known for using the imagery of a runner to illustrate the Christian life. The Hebrews writer urged the believers to get rid anything that might distract them from living for Jesus, especially any sinful habits or desires, and to run with perseverance the race set before them.

Our example of running in the spiritual Olympics is Jesus who endured the cross, despising its’ shame and is now seated at the Father’s right hand. We should not grow weary because the difficulty we have experienced in following Jesus has not been nearly as severe as what Christ suffered.

Our need is self-discipline. Of course, self-discipline is considered a bad word by many, but our promise is that if we discipline ourselves in living for Jesus, there will be an abundant harvest of righteousness as a result.

APPLY

The summer Olympics just ended last night. While the Olympics today unfortunately seems to be just another platform for political rancor, it is wonderful to see young men and women who have trained diligently realize the reward for their discipline.

The analogy of competing in the Olympics to the spiritual life is not perfect. Olympians train for years and then compete in events over a few weeks’ time. The Christian begins running the spiritual race once he makes the decision to follow Jesus, yet must train spiritually at the same time.

The most important point, however, is that we discipline ourselves to keep running, continue competing, in the race Jesus set before us.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of running in the spiritual Olympics. May I please you by my disciplined endurance as I focus my eyes on Christ who went before me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.