Backtalk
Opening Prayer
Father, I bring myself and all the worries and pressures of this week to You now. Thank You for receiving me.
Read Mark 7:24-30
[24] Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. [25] In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. [26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. [27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” [28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” [29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What characteristic did Jesus recognize in this Gentile woman?I’ve driven a lot of miles in my car this month. When Jesus and others moved on, they travelled by boat or on foot. Today’s destination is the prosperous Roman city of Tyre on the coast. This is in Gentile land and Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there (24). It may be that they had come to an unfamiliar place for a break. Commentators suggest that the children are the Jews (27) and the dogs the Gentiles. So Jesus might be saying that the Gentiles will get God’s grace and mercy once the Jews have gotten theirs. This is a Gentile woman talking to a Jewish man; she must feel that he might ignore her or despise her. And she answers back (28), or does she? Maybe she was simply telling the truth as she saw it, that there was already grace for Gentiles (28). And that truth paid off. Sometimes there are situations where Christians need to tell the truth, but might fear that it will be taken as backtalk or be despised for it. But the world needs to hear the truth, and who better to say it than Christians?
Apply
Pray for Christians in their workplaces. Pray they’ll have courage to tell the truth where it needs to be told.
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray for the discernment and courage to know when to speak the truth clearly and to do it.
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