Great Faith--Day 26 of Through the Bible

                     Table Rock, located in Burke County and situated on the east rim of Linville Gorge,
                                            is the most recognizable prominent peak in this area.
                          It is visible from many locations in the area including the Blue Ridge Parkway.
                                        It is a popular attraction for hikers as well as rock climbers.
                      

January 26

Let’s begin in Proverbs verse 25 & 26, and focus on two admonitions, and apply them to the subject of faith (belief), “Let your eyes look straight ahead”. “And let all your ways be established”.

These Scriptures have a connection with our study in Matthew for Jan. 24^th. This is too good not to review, especially in light of these verses in Proverbs. In Matt 15:21-28, it became clear to me, for the first time, what Jesus is teaching in this passage. (I’m using present tense--is teaching--because He continues to teach us today.) A Gentile woman asked for healing for her daughter. Jesus ignored her—“He answered her not a word”. She asked again & He said he was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel. Then she came & worshiped Him & asked Him to help her. Again, He did not help her, but told her it wasn't appropriate to take the children's bread & give it to the little dogs. She even agreed with what He said, but told him “yet even the little dogs get a few crumbs which fall from their masters’ table”. He said, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire, and her daughter was healed from that very hour".

I've read this passage many times; however I now see it in a new light. What this woman did is an example of great faith—Jesus said it was; therefore, we can hopefully better understand faith by understanding what was going on in this passage. What did she do that showed great faith? She believed Jesus could heal her daughter and she remained focused on this--she did not allow anything that was said or done to discourage her. She could have focused on the fact that Jesus ignored her, become discouraged, and could have just gone away. Or, she could have accepted any of the reasons He gave that it was not appropriate for Him to heal her daughter.

Nevertheless, her focus remained on Jesus healing her daughter. She did not give in to circumstances. She did not give up! She knew He could heal her daughter. She let nothing deter her. Regardless of circumstances that said her daughter could not be healed, she continued to pursue healing. She remained focused on what she knew Jesus could do. Her eyes looked straight ahead and she was obviously established in her faith (Proverbs 4:25, 26). This was great faith in action! And, because of her unwavering faith, her persistence in the face of opposition, her daughter received healing. This is an eye-opening lesson that reveals unwavering, persistent faith.

Also, if she had placed her trust in anyone or anything besides Jesus, her daughter would not have been healed. Her faith was in Jesus—the Almighty God, the only one who can actually heal. Faith is not blind—faith focuses on God!