Christian Living

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5-9-12

Albert Schweitzer famous organist and humanitarian said: "It doesn't matter if an animal can reason. It matters only that is capable of suffering and that is why I consider it my neighbor." Solomon stated in Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

Why the animal theme? In Matthew 15:25 "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 to cast it to dogs." In this passage Jesus deals with a woman who has a demon possessed daughter.

The woman is a native of Canaan with a mix of Syrian, and Greek probably due to the many times the land had been conquered. Notice the exchange as she asked Jesus for help involves the term "Dog." The Jews used this term to describe the Gentiles as being people without restraint, who as Paul said, "Whose God is their belly" their actions were controlled by natural instinct, like the ravenous dogs hanging around the town dumps.

The woman who was considered a "dog" by the religious elite, when asked for help based on Christ's grace and mercy and not her own worth, received what she needed. Christ recognized her for the common trait of all God's creatures, she suffered. Her admission of suffering and need unleashed Christ's compassion. Yes, He cares.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2012 Use with credit

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