No More Leftovers!

Holidays can be a difficult time for so many.  While families are gathering to celebrate, those without family can feel such loneliness and rejection.  Possibly you are one of those people, having a sense of being an outcast.  Maybe you feel somewhat like the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus pleading for help. Her story is found in Matthew 15:22-28.

And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”  And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.

It appeared that Jesus completely ignored her cries.  Like this Gentile woman who was excluded from the Jewish covenant of promise, maybe you too feel as though you are excluded from the blessings.  Seemingly, only family members were deserving.  Nevertheless, in the face of apparent rejection, to the point of insult, this woman was not offended or averted.

“But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Amazingly she remained humble, trusting not in what was ‘deserved’, but rather in ‘undeserved’ favor…the overwhelming mercy and grace of God!  Maybe we can learn a lesson from this desperate woman.  Resisting every emotion that would try to dictate, regardless of how it looked, and refusing all opposition…she persevered, pressed in, and persisted in petitioning the Lord.

Likewise, although it may appear that you are being ignored and everyone around you is blessed beyond measure, do not be discouraged.  Even if some of His followers have treated you as a nuisance, do not be offended.  Know that you are not forgotten and are not outside the reach of God’s love, compassion, and grace.  He will not send you away.  No, don’t be hurt or offended.  Choose to imitate this woman of Canaan.  She exhibited great faith, not in who she was, but in who He was…a God of undeserved favor…a God of amazing grace.

Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

She had asked only for leftovers, but found that she was actually a member of a family…a family of adoption (Ephesians 1:5).  Little did she know that she was the child of a loving Father, no longer having to settle for crumbs.  Because of Who this Jesus was and what He had come to do (Romans 15:9-10), she was now seated at the Master’s table.  No more leftovers, she was now qualified to partake of the children’s bread.