Frontline Daily Devotion - Day 6 - Going Once, Going Twice...
Matthew 15: 23: "But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us."
There are people that the Lord does not respond to. There are times that the Lord does not respond. She had a request but he did not answer her. She did not give up, but went to his disciples. There is a powerful lesson here. When I don't get a response to my prayers, I should go and find a believer to agree with me, to intercede, to encourage me. But the disciples of Jesus interceded for themselves and not for her. They didn't mention the merits or circumstances, they said, get rid of her. She's bugging us. Have we ever found someone we think is unworthy of our intercession? Do we know someone that has brought their problems on themselves or who has not listened to wise counsel. Maybe they are down and out, and seem unable to get over, or out of their situations. We may be guilty of liking everything neat and orderly and predictable. So the question becomes why he didn't answer. Could it have been to cause her to decide how much she really wanted an answer? Or could it have been to cause the disciples to realize that He expected them to get involved with meeting needs and interceding on behalf of the needy and not for themselves? Have I ever been guilty of being callous in the face of great need because of how I perceived someone? Doesn't the whole premise rest on the disciples assuming she was unworthy because Jesus did not answer? Lord, help me to be compassionate and not judgmental. Help me to bring the need with fervency and love, and allow you to be God.
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