Editors note: This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 7.

^“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 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 Christian, 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!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

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!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this  Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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