Today's Reading: Mark 7: 24-30
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Mark 7: 24-30
Bible Study
The few verses follows the theme of yesterday on a fresh view of cleanness and uncleanness. Jesus talks about the uncleanness on the inside rather than the cleanness of the outside as in all kinds of purification rules. Here, Jesus talks about the view of how the Israelites treats the gentiles as unclean and name them as "dogs". The faith of the woman to admit that they are dogs but even dogs want the children's crumbs leads her daughter to be healed.
N. T. Wright says, "what Jesus did was seen by the disciples as a sign that he had meant what he had said about cleanness and uncleanness. The old barriers were being swept away. The dogs under the table were already sharing the children's bread; pretty soon they would cease to be dogs, and become children alongside the others."
Do you have some "dogs" that you think you do not want to help? Do you have the faith of that woman to believe in Jesus that even the impossible can be accomplished?
Have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to God as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
My Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: How big is you faith?
Jesus reminds me today that the woman has a really "big" faith! Her people had been insulted by the Israelites for centuries and she still went to seek for Jesus help. That is impossible! On the other hand, Jesus primarily job was not to the gentiles and not on healing but of inaugurating God's kingdom. He did not need to help the woman. So, this example has a deeper meaning that we can think of, a fresh understanding of cleanness and uncleanness, big faith and your willingness to help those "dogs"!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to have big faith to seek for your help and that we can be willing to help those we do not want to help. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Chinese praise song - 这一生最美的祝福 The Most Wonderful Blessing of My Life
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