Devotional Guide for Thursday, February 29

Matthew 15:21-28

Reflect
I’ve always had a hard time with this passage. It is one of the few passages where I get the sense Jesus is just being rude. He engages with a Samaritan woman at the well but doesn’t seem to have time for a Gentile woman begging for help.

We can also read this passage and see the persistence of the woman. She knew who Jesus was. She calls him “Son of David”, tipping her hand to knowing who Jesus is in the large story of God and His saving work.

I appreciate how the woman persists in seeking help from Jesus. I believe she has concluded that only Jesus will be able to heal her daughter. It would appear she is able to get past the historical divide between Jew and Gentile and see Jesus for who He really is--the One who came to save the lost.

Apply
How persistent are you in your walk with Jesus? Do you have true faith, or a strong faith in who Jesus is? As you place yourself in this story, which character do you most identify with and why?

Pastor Terry

Pray for Hockey Ministries International
Hockey Ministries International understands that for many players, coaches, officials and parents, hockey is more than a sport. It is a culture. It is a community where “survival of the fittest” often prevails and people can become so consumed with ’success’ that they struggle for inner peace and purpose beyond the game. For 40 years, we have gone to the arena with a subtle, ice-level approach, interacting with players in informal settings.  We seek to bring the peace, hope, purpose and value that comes from having a relationship with Jesus Christ.  This is done through chapel programs, 1-on-1 discipleship, summer camps, and print and social media.