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But He did not Answer Her – Not a Single Word was Said – Until

Tip! What really determines’ the effectiveness of our labor for Christ is the measure of our faith and the fervency of our prayers. If our faith is poor and our praying is indifferent; how can we expect to achieve much for Him?

"But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before Him, saying, "Lord, help me." And He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. "

Matthew 15:23-28 RSV

All of you who are genuine seekers; you know who you are. As of yet you have not obtained the blessing that you are looking for, have you. You should take comfort from this story that is before us. Our Saviour did not give the blessing at once to this woman, even though she had great faith in Jesus. He intended to give her the request, but He waited awhile. What was He waiting for? Why is Jesus waiting to grant your request today?

"But He did not answer her a word." Was it because her prayers were not any good? No. They were never better in the world. Was her case not that needy? No. She was very sorrowfully and needy. Did she not feel her need sufficiently? She felt it overwhelmingly. Was she not earnest enough? She was intensely so. Then it must have been that she had no faith? Wrong! She had such a high degree of faith; in fact she had so much that even Jesus marveled, and said, "O woman, great is your faith." So then what is the problem?

Here are some possibilities, although it is true that faith brings peace, however it does not always bring it instantaneously. There might be certain reasons in your life that are calling for the trial of faith, rather than the reward of faith. Remember Jesus is the "author and finisher of our faith", so He knows precisely what we need. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed, but as of yet it may not have budded or blossomed into joy and peace that we so desperately want.

Tip! The Master will not expect more from anyone than a person is capable of doing for Him. Jesus wants us to understand that each person will be rewarded according to their faithfulness in doing their given task.

A painful silence from our Saviour is a serious trial for many of us that are truly seeking Him with all their hearts. But still even heavier is the difficulty of a harsh cutting reply such as this, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

Many people while waiting on the Lord find instant delight, but this is not the case with all of us. Remember the jailer? He was in a moment turned from darkness to light, but others of us are like plants that have a slower growth period. A deeper sense of sin may be given to you instead of a sense of pardon. And in such a case you will have to have patience to bear this heavy blow.

Ah, but poor heart, even though Christ may beat and bruises you, or even allows you to die, trust Him completely! Even though He must give you an angry word, trust in the love of His heart. Do not please, I beg you, give up! Keep seeking! Keep trusting our Master! Because just as this woman received her request so you will obtain the conscious joy that you long so much for soon. Throw yourself on Him, and perseveringly depend on Him even where you can not yet rejoice in the hope you seek.

Tip! Praise and thanksgiving – This is the earnest, heartfelt prayer where we come before the Lord thanking and praising him for his mighty power and love. We may praise him in both our earthly and spiritual language.

The possibilities of prayer are gauged by faith in God's ability to do. Faith is the one prime condition by which God works. Faith is the one prime condition by which a person prays. Faith draws on God to its full extent. Faith gives character to prayer. A feeble faith has always brought forth feeble praying. Vigorous faith creates vigorous praying. Christ asks this pointed question, "When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"

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