Daily Devotion for October 28, 2009
Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Prayer for the Morning
Oh Lord, most heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought me to the beginning of this day; I give you thanks for my creation, preservation, and all the blessings of my life. Grant that this day I fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all my doings, being governed by your will, may be righteous in your sight. Through Christ our Lord, I pray.
Thanks for the Life of Christ
Almighty God, I thank you for the life and teachings of your only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is amazing to me that he lived and walked among us, one of us, a mortal man who bled and felt pain, who felt anger and love, who would become tired and hungry. Your love in showing us that you would share the burdens of mortality is great. Although the terrible beating and torture, and long painful death, that He suffered at the hands of the powerful was a terrible thing, his ultimate victory in overcoming that death was the greatest victory in the history of mankind. I praise you for Christ's resurrection and victory, and for His promise to all people, that he will intercede for us at our death, and bring us to eternal life. Today I remember and celebrate His resurrection, giving all glory to Father, Son and Holy Spirit for this miracle and the redemption of our own lives. Through Christ I pray,
Community of Prayer
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be among the community of all who pray in the name of Christ this morning, and remain among us always.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Gospel of Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus Heals the Canaanite Daughter
Jesus left the area, and traveled to the land of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman came out from the land and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon." But he answered her not a word.
Then his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Help her, so that she will go away; she is making a fuss."
But he answered, "I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
She came and worshipped him anyway, saying, "Lord, help me." And he told her, "It is not fitting to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs."
But she answered, "Lord, even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you, just as you want." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Comment on the Scripture
Canaan was the name Jews gave to what was called Phoenicia by the Greeks and Romans, and is called Lebanon today. The Canaanites were racially quite close to the Israelites and their spoken language apparently was so similar to ancient Hebrew that they could converse with each other. The Canaanite's religious beliefs, however, were heathen. The famous false god Baal, whom errant Hebrews would worship, was a Canaanite god.
Thus, there could hardly have been a race more "unclean" to a devout Hebrew. The disciples urge Christ to deal with the Canaanite woman simply because she is so persistent that she distracts and irritates them. She follows them around, yelling and crying for mercy. Christ, however, is not bothered by her. Rather, he is testing the strength of her faith. By healing the woman's daughter, he shows that even the most sinful Gentile, if his or her faith is strong and constant, can be forgiven and will be included in Christ's mercy and forgiveness.
