공동체와 양육

Even Crumbs are Enough (Matt 15:21~28)

2017.10.15P. Jaehoon Lee

Even the smallest crumb of God's grace is enough for us, so we should keep seeking Him with earnest, humble, and persistent faith, even when He seems silent.

Seek Him earnestly even in God's silence (vv. 22-23)

When Jesus first stayed silent, the woman could have taken it as rejection. She did not walk away. She kept crying out for mercy for her daughter who was tormented by a demon. Have you ever experienced God's silence? Silence is not always refusal. Even the psalmists cried out, 'God, why are you not responding?' Bring your disappointment honestly to God, for such prayer is part of walking closely with Him.

Persistent faith keeps coming before the Lord (vv. 24-25)

When Jesus said He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, the woman still did not give up. She came closer, knelt before Him, and said, 'Lord, help me.' Persistence is not stubbornness. Like a child who keeps asking, we learn through persistent prayer what we truly need. Over time, God's silence can shape our hearts toward maturity rather than leave us where we began.

Humble faith says God is right even when the answer is no (vv. 26-27)

Jesus answered that it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs, a shocking statement in that day, when Gentiles were often called dogs. Yet the woman answered, 'Yes, Lord, it is right.' Even if God does not give us what we ask, God is still righteous. True faith does not blame God when the answer is no, but humbly trusts that He is right.

Even a crumb of grace is enough for me (vv. 28)

The woman asked not for the main dish but only for the crumbs falling from the master's table. Her words exalt the greatness of God while lowering herself. Jesus saw the great faith in her and granted her request. Even a brief moment of God's presence is enough to begin faith, and Jesus' praise of her faith is now recorded in Scripture.

Align yourself with God rather than asking God to align with your needs

Some feel that God's answers come too slowly, but persistent prayer teaches us what we really need. God already knows our needs, so prayer is not about informing Him but about trusting Him. Do not try to make God conform to your wishes; instead, shape yourself to God's will and focus on what He is revealing. True faith is learning to persist in the midst of God's silence, lowering ourselves and exalting Him.

Apply to Life

  • Let us keep coming to the Lord earnestly when His silence makes us wait.
  • Let us bring our disappointment honestly to God in prayer and keep trusting Him.
  • Let us humbly confess that God is right even when His answer is no.
  • Let us be thankful for even the smallest crumb of God's grace.
  • Let us align ourselves with God's will rather than asking God to align with ours.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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