[Membersandfriends] Monday, August 09, 2004

Sun Aug 8 22:02:17 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Monday, August 09, 2004

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NEVER GIVE UP
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Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSV)

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

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Jesus said, "Woman, you have great faith!"
- Matthew 15:28 (NIV)
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THE suggested Bible reading for today tells a story of great faith and great persistence, neither of which I possess.  I pray for something a few times and, if nothing happens, simply believe God is saying no and turn my attention elsewhere.  I give up too easily.  

Today's scripture shows me just how wrong I have been.  The woman, who is a Canaanite and not a Jew, recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, the "Son of David."  She shouts at Jesus, begs him, dialogues with him, humbles herself, and pays homage to him.  And because of the woman's faith and perseverance, Jesus drives the demon from her daughter's body.  

Christ looks for that same kind of faith and spirit in you and me.  Persistence and determination are qualities that surface in those who are committed to something or someone they believe in.  I believe God wants to answer our prayers and asks that we come with sincerity, with faith, even with the determination of the Canaanite woman.

Prayer:  O God, strengthen our faith and help us to persist in asking for what we need and want from you.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Keep praying until an answer comes.

-- D. D. Emmons (Illinois, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those tempted to give up on God

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RELATED READING ...

More than a "how-to" book, CREATING A LIFE WITH GOD offers an opportunity to learn and adopt different types of prayer practices. Some of these practices include creativity, journaling, solitude and silence, and the Jesus Prayer.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=128390

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.