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Never Give Up

“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre.  He tried to keep it secret that he was there, but he couldn’t.  As usual, the news of his arrival spread fast.  Right away a woman came to him whose little girl was possessed by an evil spirit.  She had heard about Jesus, and now she came and fell at his feet.  She begged him to release her child from the demon’s control.  Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, ‘First I should help my own family, the Jews.  It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.’  She replied, ‘That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are given some crumbs from the children’s plates.’  ‘Good answer!’ he said.  ‘And because you have answered so well, I have healed your daughter.’  And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone” – Mark 7:24-30 (New Living Translation).

Don’t give up.  Trust God and keep moving.  That’s the moral of this story that Mark records.  It is an odd story, unlike any other in the gospel records.  In this story Jesus calls a woman seeking his help a “dog.”  Now at first glance, this appears very unloving of Jesus.  But we must understand that Jesus did not use the ordinary word for dog that might have been a slam against this woman.  That word is “kyon” indicating a dog of the street that roams about trash cans.  Jesus did not use this word.  He used the word “kynarion” which indicates a lap-dog or one that sits on the master’s lap.  This word speaks more of a beloved family pet or puppy.

So when Jesus at first declines to heal this Gentile woman’s daughter and says it is not proper for him to give his healing to the dogs (Gentiles) before he first goes to the children (the Jews) he isn’t showing racism or slamming this woman.  Rather, he is speaking in the form of a proverb to emphasize that God first sent him to the Jews.  His healing of this woman’s daughter shows that he would also eventually heal and save Gentiles as well - - as God intended all along.  It is a proverb of priority, not a teaching of racism.  It would be like us saying, “My first duty is to my family.  Then I serve others.” 

But the main point of this story is to show the great determination and faith of this woman.  God ever prizes our trust in him.  He wants us to trust him and never give up, even when the odds seem impossible.  If we continue to seek him regardless of how the odds look, he will come through for us.

Now a caution here.  This scripture doesn’t teach that if we keep pestering God long enough about something that we’ll get our way.  No!  If what we are asking God for does not line up with his will, we can ask until kingdom come and we won’t receive it.  But if we are persistent in seeking God about something and it is in line with his will, we will receive that for which we ask.

The key is that we must persist.  Don’t quit on God or life just because things aren’t going your way for a while.  Don’t pray to God only once about something and get mad at him if he doesn’t come through.

No!  We must keep trying.  Keep moving.  Keep seeking his will in our lives.  Keep watching for and taking advantage of opportunities to glorify him when they come.  Ask and you shall receive.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and the door will be opened to you.  These are also the words of Jesus. 

A man seeking full time ministry; a mother seeking God’s blessing on her children; a teacher seeking to lead his students properly; a Christian business owner desiring to grow his client-base; a husband wanting to know how to express his love for his wife in a way that will touch her heart and build his marriage - - these and more are situations of life where we must persist in seeking God to experience victory.  We must read his word, kneel in prayer, listen to his people, and praise his name in worship over and over -  never giving up on God or seeking his blessing. 

Be a spiritual optimist, not a pessimist.  Be like the woman who wouldn’t give up, but kept dialoguing with Jesus.  You keep dialoguing with him too.  Sooner or later he will pour out a blessing on your life so great that you cannot contain it if he sees that your heart trusts in him.  It may not be exactly what you asked for.  Instead, it will be far better!

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