Faith, Humility, and Perseverance

To what lengths would you go to receive the healing power of Jesus? Would you persevere to the point of success?

Consider the example of the Gentile woman “whose young daughter had an unclean spirit” (Mark 7:24-30). The woman did not merely ask Jesus to heal her daughter, but “kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her.” Jesus said, however, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. He was saying (in the form of a parable) that His ministry (at this time) involved being sent to the Jews and not to the Gentiles (Matthew 15:24). But the woman persevered. “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” What persistence! What humility! What faith! She was willing to have her and her daughter be considered as ‘little dogs,’ for she knew that her daughter could be healed by the Lord if only she could be a ‘little crumb.’ Jesus said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire” (Matthew 15:28). Her daughter was healed “that very hour.”

Many are not willing to go to the same lengths that this woman went in order for themselves to be healed by the Lord – to be spiritually healed of their sins, that is. They come to the Lord, but don’t persevere. They allow Jesus’ words to offend them. If the Lord had referred to them as a ‘little dog’ they would have gone away ‘in a huff.’ Perhaps they are called upon to give up a relationship. Perhaps Jesus says (through His word) for them to give up some immoral practice. It could be that a sermon or religious article based on truth has ‘ruffled their feathers.’ Jesus’ way is “narrow” and they find this offensive, so they remain on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Listen, friends: Until we rid ourselves of our sinful pride and humble ourselves before Jesus, as did this Gentile woman, we will not persevere to salvation. Jesus Himself said, “whoever humbles himself” as a little child “is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4). It all begins with faith in Jesus – faith leading to humility, resulting in perseverance.


--Mike Noble