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From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet.Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’ (Mark 7:24-37)
Happy Labor Day Friend! I trust this day provides rest from your labors and a renewal for the rest of this week. We celebrate the arrival of Miss Magdalena Rose Sherman, daughter of Katrina and Brian Sherman, who serve as our youth directors at First UMC-Gonzales. Miss Sherman arrived Saturday at 1:09 pm and weighed in at 7lb 9oz. We thank the Lord for this precious blessing and we ask prayers for Mom and Dad as they have welcomed in their first child. We also thank God for the birthday for one of my mentors in ministry, The Rev. Francisco "Pancho" Gaytan, who celebrates a birthday today. Prayers for God to bless him and grant him many more. Happy Birthday, Pancho! (Rev. Gaytan has been a long time subscriber to ConCafe!
We have been blessed with a sermon series on prayer at our church. Pastor Matt Pennington has taken the Lord's Prayer and dissected it and explained it in wonderful ways. Yesterday's sermon dealt with the proper way to pray and how many people believe since they don't know a or the proper way to pray, they don't. And the truth is, there is no right way to pray. The disciples as faithful Jews knew the prayers they had been taught by the religious men of their day, but when they saw Jesus praying from His heart, they wanted to learn how to pray that way as well. Today's lesson shows how people when they knew about what Jesus could do, they sought him out. As Jesus seeks to find some time alone in a home He believed no one would know, there they are, and among them a troubled non-Jewish woman whose daughter surfaced from a demonic possession. This caused great unrest in her household as we can well imagine. The woman had the courage and boldness of faith to seek Jesus and then convince Him of her need. Many would have said, "Okay, Jesus, I understand..." and walk off. Bold Faith has her saying, "Yes, but even the dogs under the table was the children's crumbs." That kind of faith moved Jesus and Jesus told her that her daughter was healed.
The second story takes place in the region of ten cities, the Decapolis. There the crowds await Him and among them, some brought along a man who was deaf and who suffered from an impediment of speech, for him his friend begged Jesus to just lay a hand on him and heal him. Jesus takes the man in private and puts His fingers in his ears and he spat and touched the man's tongue. The healing was immediate; the man once deaf, could now hear; and who once could not speak correctly, now spoke plainly. And though now the man would shout, Jesus says, "Tell no one." This is what is called the "Messianic Secret" in Mark's Gospel. But, as most of us would do, we would use our now loosened tongue to proclaim the goodness of God to share healing with us! A bold faith not only knows to ask Jesus for healing; once received it proclaims to others; seek the Lord and what He can do, and then tell somebody about it! And here's another not-so-secret secret, one never bothers Jesus with our needs. His love is greater than our fears in asking; so ask! In Matthew 7:7 we find that not-so-secret secret: "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened for you." Be bold. Be a person of prayer. Worship the Lord with your prayers, but know to ask as well. Today's Upper Room devotional also has a lovely message on prayer and asking AND trusting.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and compassion for us. Grant to us boldness of faith to worship You in our prayers and the boldness to ask for those things which we need. Heal us, strengthen us; and give us boldness again to tell someone about what You do. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Enjoy the rest of this Labor Day; thank the Lord for those who have jobs and bless their families with them. Seek to labor for the Lord as we become persons of prayer!
Eradio Valverde
