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Editors note: This is part of  the devotional I had with the Lord this morning/afternoon of August 25, 05 that I wanted to share with you all! If the questions or statements can be used as Bible study guides or discussion questions feel free to use them.

Quiet Times: (Psalm 86, Proverbs 26, and Mark 7:25-26)

"O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive; so full of mercy for all who ask your aid." (Psalm 86:5, TLB)

^“In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.” (Mark 7:25-26, NIV)

Observation:

I asked myself what we learn about the woman.

1. She heard about Jesus.

2. She was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia.

3. She had a little daughter who was possessed by an evil spirit.

4. She came to Jesus

5. She fell at his feet

6. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

Interpretation:

I asked myself what was the significance of the woman’s action.

She was not Jewish and yet when she heard about Jesus and all Jesus had done and was doing, she did not let her nationality, race, ethnicity or culture to come in the way of coming to Jesus for help. Not only that but she fell at Jesus’ feet. It is important to know that she was seen as a despised race among the Jewish people. Knowing that, it shows us the courage she had. She did not let her nationality or ethnicity come in the way of meeting with Jesus. When she met Jesus, she did not just ask Him for help but fell down and begged Him to drive the demon out of her daughter. We are not told how far she traveled to see Jesus or if there was a Greek population in Tyre at that time. What we do know is, we see the woman’s faith in action even though she is not Jewish but seen as a despised Gentile.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. It does not matter what race, nationality, or ethnicity we are of. As the woman realized what Jesus could do, I need to always remember that Jesus is a Healer and Teacher. Whatever help I need, I should go to Jesus, fall at His feet figuratively, and beg Him for help. Begging Jesus for help is through talking to Jesus about what I am going through. I need to make prayer a part of my life consistently as I plead to Jesus for help. We all need to do that. I can take to the Lord my prayers for healing and salvation of my loved ones. You can too!

I ask you now dear friend, will you ask Jesus to save your loved ones.

Dear friend, the woman was a despised Gentile. She did not let that stop her from coming to Jesus, falling at His feet, and begging Him for help. She did it for the love of her daughter. We can too! No matter what their nationality, ethnicity, or race is, we should bring them before Jesus and ask Jesus to save them. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Whatever Jesus did then, He can still do now! Yes, He can friend and we need to have faith. You should continually ask Jesus to save your loved ones without giving up no matter what they have done or where they have been. The woman had the opportunity to come to Jesus, fall at His feet, and beg Him for help. You too have an opportunity to come to Jesus and beg Jesus for the salvation of your loved ones. For Jesus’ salvation alone can save our loved ones from the permanent attack of the enemy. However, it is important not to be yoked with unbelievers. If we are praying for a loved one and they are not believers in Christ but we want to date them and marry them, there is a problem there. We are not to date non-believers according hoping they will one day become a follower. Scripture speaks against marriage of a believer and unbeliever. This is the only restriction there is. There is no restriction about nationality, race, ethnicity, education, language, social status etc when we want to marry someone.

Even as you pray for your loved ones, won't you remember that friend. 

You can do it friend as you seek Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior. He is there for you. Yes, He is and that is exciting to know! Regardless of who your loved ones are or have become, do not give up on them for you cannot save them but the One who gave His life for us to ransom us from our sins has the power, protection, and pardon to save. Yes, He does! Not giving up on them is not addressing dating scenario here. This does not however mean if you are married and become a born-again Christ, you can leave the one who is not born-again. You should not but keep your loved one in prayer that Jesus will help them see the Light too!  For more information on marriage, please check 1 Corinthians 6 & 7.

May you come to Jesus without thinking it is hopeless, for Savior anoints valiantly emancipating! Amen!

"Savior Anoints Valiantly Emancipating!" (S.A.V.E)/"Will you ask Jesus to save your loved ones?"

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for receiving the woman who was seen as a despised Gentile. She was not even Jewish and you gave her time to speak her mind and did not turn her away even though others would have. I love you Jesus. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. I confess my sins to you and am so sorry for my sin. Cleanse me with your cleansing blood and I will be clean again, wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. I pray right now for the one who feels so troubled and hurt; they need your help Oh Lord to minister to them where they are. Help them not to give up on their loved ones no matter what path they have chosen but that they would intercede on their behalf always until the answer and healing comes. Thank you Father God it will come and our prayers are never wasted in vain. We praise you and thank you for everything. Lord we want to lift your Name on High. We want to thank you for everything you have done for us and do for us. For you alone are God Eternal throughout earth and Heaven above! Thank you for hearing our prayer and answering us, for being our Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Jesus, I thank you for being the Bread of Life. You are the Living Bread of my life. Thank you for coming from Heaven and giving your life for the life of the world. You sacrificed yourself for humanity. Thank you Lord when we eat of you symbolically making you part of our life, digesting what you teach us by following you, we can be living Eternally, and the fruit that comes will reflect and resemble your life. I want that Father God. I want that Lord Jesus! I want that Holy Spirit! I know of a lot of people who partake of Holy Communion where the bread represents your body broken for their sin and the juice represents your blood shed for their sin. When we partake of Holy Communion, we are reminded that we are remembering you. I want to remember you always Lord Jesus. But for me to remember you always, I need to know you and acknowledge everything you said you are. So right now I acknowledge that you are my Lord and Personal Savior who died and rose again to give me life from sin. So right now, I come to you and say how sorry I am for my sin and living a life on my own. I repent of my sin and ask you to forgive me of my sin with your cleansing blood which I accept. Wash me and I will be clean from this infection of sin. Come Lord Jesus and please become part of my life as you live in me and I will live for you. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I do need your Spirit to reside in me and work in me and through me so I surrender all that I am and will be to you. Whatever your will is for me, please give me the strength and willingness to bear it and rejoice in you. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Jesus for becoming my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and have answered me. I thank you that I am your child Oh God. I thank you for becoming my only Way, Turth, and Life to Eternal Life. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

(You can start your Christian adventure by reading the Gospel of John)

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or have a  Bible study, you can email me at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579

NEXT DEVOTIONAL:
"What is the A.D.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y  you are facing?" (Aug 27,05)

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