MEMORISE:
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
READ: Matthew 15:21-28
21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
MESSAGE
Anyone who has a revelation of what worship does to true and genuine worshippers is blessed indeed. The story in today's Bible text reveals the practical impact of worship. In that story, our Lord Jesus Christ was approached for help by a Syro-Phoenician woman whose daughter was grievously possessed by a demon. The Bible says He did not pay any attention to her, and so His disciples advised that He should just send her away. However, instead of sending her away, Jesus opened the door of opportunity to dialogue with her and bring her to the saving knowledge of the God of Israel. He said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." This was the hint this woman needed to turn the situation around. On hearing this, she did something which is the focus of our reflection today. Matthew 15:25 says:
“Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me”.
This action by the Syro-Phoenician woman ensured that Jesus continued to hear her. In their ensuing dialogue, she demonstrated persistent faith which the Lord's anointing could not resist. Jesus commended her faith which was borne out of spiritual humility, saying to her:
“O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt”.
Matthew 15:28b
There are many lessons to learn from this story, but central to these lessons is the art of worship. We should always remember that all men are the same before God, and the purpose of their existence is to worship their Maker. Whether mankind likes it or not, a day is coming when we shall all worship before God. Speaking concerning this, Psalm 86:9 says:
“All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name”.
Our memory verse reveals that the Father seeks those who worship Him. Beloved, worship does what no other thing can do in the place of prayer. What can anyone do that would make God do what He wouldn't have done otherwise? The answer is worship. David worshipped God and God established a dynasty for him. His son worshipped God through unprecedented sacrifice and got more than he bargained for (1 Kings 3:4-13). The Syro-Phoenician woman worshipped Jesus Christ and a dog outside the kingdom became a child of the kingdom. As a matter of fact, some dogs worship their owners and eventually eat from their master's table! Beloved, I want to encourage you to always engage in genuine worship, and you will be amazed by the great breakthroughs you will begin to experience.
ACTION POINT:
Spend quality time worshipping God today and see how He will rise on your behalf.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 8-10, Luke 22:39-62
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 1: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
1. Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices,
Who from our mother's arms
Hath bless'd us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
2. Oh may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
And keep us in His grace,
And guide us when perplex'd
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next
3. All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and Spirit blest,
Who reign in highest heaven,
The One eternal God,
Whom earth and heav'n adore,
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
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