DAY 26: THE RICHES OF GOD’S MERCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT V- THE SYRO-PHOENICIAN WOMAN

 THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

 

TOPIC: THE RICHES OF GOD’S MERCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT V- THE SYRO-PHOENICIAN WOMAN

DATE: 26 SEPTEMBER, 2021

BIBLE READING: MARK 7:24-30

VERSE FOR MEDITATION: MARK 7:29 ESV

And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”

 

In today’s Bible reading, just like what we shared about the Samaritan woman, of how Jesus needed to go through Samaria because the riches of God’s mercy was about to visit her. And we understood from the Bible that the Jews ought to be the first to receive the gospel of Christ before the Gentiles (Matt. 10:4; 15:24). Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon; the gentiles nations. Remember what Jesus said of Himself, that he did nothing except whatever He saw the Father did (Jn. 5:21). So His journey through the gentile nation was by the leading of the Spirit of God.

In Mark’s gospel chapter one, the Bible says of Jesus of how He woke up very early in the morning before daybreak to pray in a solitary place. And after the prayers, He knew where to go to preach (vs. 35-39). That was the custom of Jesus; He prayed until He receives direction on where to go and who to meet (c.f. Jn. 5:1-6, 21).

Now Jesus went to the region of the gentile nations by the leading of the Spirit of God because the riches of God’s mercy was about to be shown to a Syro-phoenician woman. This woman must have known who Jesus was, because she came to Jesus for a miracle. The fame of Jesus had really spread at that time.

Even when Jesus said that the children (the Israelites) ought to be filled first, this woman knew that His coming down there was for a purpose- the riches of God’s mercy to the gentile nations. She was able to gain access into the heart of Jesus where His compassion and the riches of His love dwell. And that was why Jesus said to her, “For that statement…” a statement that invoked the mercies of God.

David had some understanding of who God is and that was why he made a statement that invoked the mercies of God, “… According to the multitude of Your mercies.” Such statement like this is what the writer of the Hebrews meant when he wrote, “Let us therefore come boldly… to obtain mercy.” (Heb. 4:16). You come boldly by the understanding you have about the riches of God’s mercies and the declaration you make before Him. Having an understanding about the mercies of God alone cannot move Him, but the statement you make can and will move Him. Just like believing in your heart cannot get you saved alone, you need to confess with your mouth (Rom. 10:9, 10 c.f. Job 22:28).

 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I confess Your goodness that is wrought out in Your love and mercy.

 

DECLARATION: THE LORD IS MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS TO ME.

 

JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAULINE’S EPISTLE: TITUS 1-3