Today’s reading: Mark 7:24-37, 8:1-10

“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭27-30‬ NIV)

This passage always convicts me about any entitlement I have in my life when it comes to thinking I deserve God’s grace. I, in fact, deserve hell, punishment for all that I’ve done. I do not deserve an extra measure of grace.

This woman’s faith is off the charts. She doesn’t launch into a theological debate with Jesus about how just because she isn’t a Jew doesn’t mean that she was unclean, a dog, an outsider.

She simply says, “Even the dogs.”

Jesus did not really believe she was a dog. He was simply saying what all other Jewish people were saying. He gave her a chance and she took it!