Devotional: Faith Overcomes Barriers
- Joseph Myles
- Oct 25, 2017
- 2 min read
Mark 7:24-30
The year was 1963, a time in history when in the south Black people were not allowed to sit down in white owned restaurants to eat. They were just four teenage boys, two were Black and two were white. The Black boys were Larry, a sixteen year old and his brother Clay, a thirteen year old were traveling with Houston, a fifteen year old white boy, and his brother Steve, a thirteen year old. It was lunch time and the boys were hungry. Houston suggested that the group stop at this restaurant to get something to eat. He and Steve would go inside and they would ask if they could bring their friends inside also to eat lunch. Larry and Clay were hesitant, but Houston and Steve expressed their confidence that the people would allow them to come inside also. Although Houston did not say so, it is probable that in part the people allowed Larry and Clay inside because Houston was the son of a prominent business man. Regardless, it was Houston’s faith that prompted him to ask that his friends be allowed to eat.
We see this same faith in the Syrophoenician woman; a Gentile. Jesus, a Jew is in the region. This woman has a daughter that is sick. She has heard stories about Jesus; His ability to heal the sick; His compassion for the poor. She asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus gives an answer that one would expect a Jewish man to give a Gentile woman. Jesus’ initial answer reflects the racial divide between Jew and Gentile woman. This mother believes that Jesus is a man from God. He will not allow one’s race to stop Him from doing what is right. The woman tells Jesus that even dogs are allowed to eat the crumbs under the table. Jesus responds to the woman’s faith. He heals the woman’s daughter. Her faith has overcome the barriers that existed.
Jesus died for our sins; the barrier between us and God. We need only faith to overcome barriers.
Prayer; Lord Jesus we thank you for your responding to our needs. In faith we pray that you continue to remove barriers that are in our life. Amen.
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