Dogging for Help Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Dogging for Help ------------------------------------- Date: 4/10/2002 Keywords: "crumbs" "dog" "help" "unworthy" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Matthew 15:21-28* 21. And Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22. And behold, a Canaanite woman came out from that region, and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." 23. But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came to Him and kept asking Him, saying, "Send her away, for she is shouting out after us." 24. But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25. But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26. And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27. But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once. Questions 1. Why would Jesus call the woman in today's passage a dog?   2. Does a feeling of unworthiness ever keep you from seeking help from God?   Practical help I've got a black Labrador retriever and for all her "doggyness" she always teaches me things about faith, unconditional love, contentment, trust and humility. Quite a list for a dog! If you have a dog like mine it might not surprise you that Jesus refers to the Canaanite woman in today's passage as a dog. He seized every opportunity to shake up the mainstream concept of the way things "ought" to be. When there were Jews all around, you just didn't pay attention to a gentile woman — it's like giving the children's food to the dogs first — it's just not done. But Jesus always responds to a genuine cry for help. Always! Could be that your habitual failures to resist porn have you feeling unworthy of God's concern and lower than the dirtiest dog. Well, Jesus loves dirty dogs. And He loves to give them something substantial when they come around waiting for crumbs. Don't be ashamed to stick your tail between your legs and dog Jesus for some help. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---