Food for the Children or Dogs

In answer he said: ¨It is not right to take the bread of the children and throw it to little dogs.¨ Matthew 15:26 (Reference Bible)

Jesus had been approached by a Canaanite woman who wanted Him to heal her daughter.  First He tried to ignore her but even though His followers wanted Him to send the lady away, she kept insisting.  He refused her by saying that He had been sent to the lost children of the house of Israel.  (Matthew 15 verses 21 to 28)

Now the Jews were the people, out of all the nations of the world, who supposedly wore the name of God and worshipped Him alone.  The other nations all around held their own beliefs and worshipped whatever gods they liked best.

This same thing is happening today in our modern age.  Christians are supposed to be the chosen people who now wear the name of God and worship Him and His Son.

The Canaanite woman boldly insisted that Jesus hear her plea and grant her a little grace even though she was not from the select people.  She understood enough of the heart of God to know that although God´s mercy and grace flow out to His children, there is still a chance that others outside of the heritage may also be fed and nourished by what falls from the holy table.

Glory be to God above, that even the filthiest and most dog-like nature found among us may still be fed somehow from these blessed scraps of grace.

We Christians are sitting at our table and the food our Father is giving to nourish us is being served.  It is our choice what kind of attitude to have.  We could continue nibbling at the abundance of what is on the table, or we could choose to be like the woman in the story.  We could realize our own inadequacy and plead with the Master, to let some scraps fall to us as well.

It may claim to have the right to sit at the table as children, but to be certain that our attitude pleases God, we might choose rather to imitate the simple-hearted faith of the Canaanite woman.

Dear Lord, let us be like the woman in the story.  We may not have the right in ourselves to sit up at the table.  But if we have faith like she did, in your grace and mercy, even the scraps that fall from Your table may serve to nourish us. You were impressed by her faith and pleased to grant her what she wanted.  Now be pleased with us too as we choose to take on her same humble attitude and her insistence.  Send us strength and persistence until we too have found grace in You.

Amen