THE CHILDREN'S BREAD.
*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*THE CHILDREN'S BREAD.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Matthew 15:25-28 *Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.*
*But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.*
*And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.*
*Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Often, due to ingratitude, non challant, or neglect, God's children's lose the Kingdom bread meant for them to others.
*Scripture Treasure.*
Jesus' remarks as recorded by Saint Mark 7:27 says, *"But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled:....."*
Mark's record of this encounter deserves some mention in that it ascribes the apportionment, appropriateness, and fulness of this bread, first to the children of God before any other person could have it.
Christ used the verb "take" for the Kingdom children, whereas He used 'cast' to the Gentile woman.
The word 'cast' is highly diminutive and often appropriately used for animals.
The woman was from Canaan, a Gentile.
There are lessons we can learn further from this encounter.
First, children' s bread is defined as what belongs to the children of God, Israel.
Second, as of the time when Matthew and Mark recorded this gospel, Jesus said He had been sent to the Gentiles. He said in Matt 15:24, *".... I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."*
Third, as a result, Jesus was demarcating Israel from strangers.
It should not be viewed as an intentional disregard to the Canaanite's desperate need, but Jesus' views must be respected based on His covenant relationship with Israel.
Fourth, the Gentiles are now grafted into the Kingdom because of Israel's unbelief. Those who believe are now a part of the Kingdom of God, Rom 11: 11-25.
Fifth, Jesus's view has implications today of how important it is to have a relationship with Christ. Jesus will put anyone in his/her rightful place when he/she does not have a relationship with Him, Matt 25:41.
This is because, to take the blessings from the covenant children (either Jews or gentiles) in order to give them to aliens (non-covenant children) was like throwing them away to unworthy recipients.
Sixth, this encounter teaches us that when we seek help from the Lord, persistence is key, Luke 11:8, 18:5.
When we do not receive gracious answers, we should learn to turn every unworthiness and discouragement into pleas for mercy.
Do not let discouragements rob you of the children's bread!
*Remorse corner.*
The Canaanite woman persisted to the point of annoyance, yet was not discouraged. She was untiring until she got answers to her problem.
*Call to Word action.*
Luke 11:8 *I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Many people want to take the children's bread from them. You have been too long a child of the Kingdom. Do not give up while others are persistent, trusting, and believing.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me. Do not let me lose my children's bread to discouragements in Jesus' name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.