4.20.20 - Spiritual Encouragement Wk #5

The Chosen (Savage Jesus)

Matthew 15:21-28

I was shook when I read this, and floored by the way that Jesus was treating this lady. This doesn't seem like the Love of Christ; Jesus was a SAVAGE!!! At first, it sounded like Jesus was saying she wasn't good enough to know Jesus, or accept the gospel, just because she wasn't born into the right family. I understand that the translation, culture and the lack of ability to hear and see His emotion, had a part to play, as to why Jesus sounded so harsh, but something still seemed off to me. Why was Jesus being such a SAVAGE to this lady? I had to do a little research for myself, so I read deeper into my study Bible.

It said this..."Jesus' words do not contradict that Gods message is for all people (psalm 22:27; Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 28:19; Romans 15:9-12). After all, When Jesus said these words, he was in Gentile territory on a mission to Gentile people. He ministered to Gentiles on many other occasions too!!! Jesus was simply telling the women that the Jews were to have the first opportunity to accept him as the Messiah because God wanted them to present the message of salvation to the rest of the world (Genesis 12:3). Jesus was not rejecting the gentile woman. He may have wanted to test her faith, or he may have wanted to use the situation as another way to teach that faith is available to all people."

Believe it or not, but today, we are his chosen people and we have the first opportunity to receive salvation. Not only do we have His favor, but it's our responsibility to present the message of Jesus to the rest of the world! You don't have to reach the whole world by yourself, lets do it together! Let's start with the people around us, our friends, family, and even our neighbors. Start with a prayer, a text, a call, or a good deed. we're so blessed to have the ability to connect through technology!!!

I have a coworker that came to church for the first time last week!!! If it wasn't for corona, I don't think she would have ever came and not only was she able to tune into the live stream, but her husband; who grew up in the church, began to seek his faith for himself once again. Just like the Israelite's, sometimes we can be so focused on the size of our giants that we forget how much bigger our God is!!! When we keep our eyes fixed on our giants, we set our focus on our fear, but when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we set our focus on His will. In this season we have the choice to fix our eyes on the power of Corona, or the power of Gods promises, that "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)"

My prayer for you is that you would know that God has chosen you to be a light in this dark time!!! It is an honor to know that God has chosen ordinary people like us, in all our brokenness and shortcomings to carry his Victory to the ends of the earth!
Just like the song...
"I've tried so hard to see it
Took me so long to believe it
That You choose someone like me
To carry Your victory
Perfection could never earn it
You give what we don't deserve
And You take the broken things
And raise them to glory"

I believe we were born for a time such as this!!!

Spend some time with Jesus today and ask him these things...
1. Jesus, what do you have for me doing this time?
2. What do you want to speak to me?
3. What do you want to speak through me?