June 7, 2011
He’s Here!
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!’ Right then her daughter became well” (Matthew 15:28 The Message).
Friend To Friend
I hope you read yesterday’s devotion. We left Belva crying herself to sleep and muttering the following prayer: “O God, if there is any way you could make an exception for one so lowly as me. I know I am from a cursed race, a despised people. But my daughter is being destroyed. She is only a child.I am not asking for me. I am begging for her. Please send Jesus my way. Please heal my little daughter. You are our only hope.”
With those words she fell asleep.
“He’s here! He’s here!” A raucous crowd outside Belva’s window startled her from her slumber. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and roused herself out of bed. Quickly she ran to the window and peeked out to see what the commotion was all about. Then she saw him. No one had to tell her the identity of the stranger walking past her home. Somehow she just knew.
“It’s Jesus!” she cried.
Belva grabbed her shawl and flew from her home. Hope was passing by and she fell at his feet to block the way. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”
Jesus didn’t answer the woman but kept walking along the dusty road.
Again she cried. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”
“Send this woman away,” the disciples urged. “She keeps crying out after us. Get rid of her.”
Jesus then paused and spoke to the woman. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Kneeling humbly at his feet, she sobbed. “Lord, help me!”
“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs,” Jesus replied.
“Yes, Lord,” she gently whispered, “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Jesus held out his hand and pulled this woman to her feet - this woman to whom he had been sent. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
Belva ran home to find her daughter lying on her bed, brushing her doll’s hair, and in her right mind. She never had a seizure again.
Years later, as she often did, Mara asked her mother to tell her a bedtime story as she tucked her into bed. “Mommy, tell me the story of Jesus again.”
Let’s Pray
Oh Jesus, thank You for caring about a simple woman like Belva.Thank You for caring for a simple woman like me. Just as Mara longed to hear the story of how Jesus changed her life, I love to tell the story of how You changed mine! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Did that bother you when Jesus didn’t answer the mother right away? I’ll admit that when I read the scenario in Matthew 15, it caused my heart to ache for her. But Jesus had something up His sleeve. He was using this as a teaching moment in the lives of the disciples. His silence caused her to show just how much faith she had.
Has Jesus’ silence in your life ever caused you to dig down deep to discover just how much faith you have?
What was the result of this mother’s persistence?
What can you learn from her?
How has persistent praying ushered in a miracle in your life? Let’s share at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.
More From The Girlfriends
Today’s story was taken from Sharon’s book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.Through the miracles and messages of Jesus we see how He came to set women free from an oppressive society and into a new life of purpose. Be prepared to fall in love with Jesus all over again! You can also watch a video about the book by clicking on the link above.
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