Matthew 15:26  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.”

      The  Syrophoenician Woman who had felt the class difference of her day and might have felt treated like a dog through life, found hope in Jesus. It was a small hope, a shot in the dark hope, but hope nonetheless. She had problems like many people today. She said it plainly. Matt.15:22b “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.” In the same way that many people today are possessed and tormented by addictions, sickness, poverty, and trial after trial are worn out, a miracle is needed. Everyone needs a crumb of peace and mercy. People may be living in some of the hardest dog days they have experienced in life so far. The misery of life is all around us and some allow the circumstances of misfortune to beat them down, and others use the same circumstances to get up and give life another try. Prov. 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.

      Calamity is a good word to explain the whirlwind of emotions, fears, and shrapnel flying through the lives of many. These poor souls look up to heaven and scream, “How about a break here!” in the hope of getting out of the quagmire of life’s challenges and finding a morsel of peace. To these people, the contrast is a hard image to take in when living in a world so full of potential possibilities but just out of reach for the downcast. There is an understanding within every person’s heart that life should be lived to the fullest, but many seem to hit a wall of exhaustion that prohibits them from taking what they need to experience something better. They are fighting a battle on two fronts, – the struggle of everyday life that can be seen, and invisible phantoms that cannot be seen but only felt in the realm of the spirit. Mental prisons become their place of residence, and a crushed spirit keeps them in a state of hopelessness.

       Whenever I see the homeless and the street dwellers shuffling along, I often think of what my friend Jim says. “We are all just one brain injury away from ending up in their shoes, We could find ourselves so easily living like they are because many people are just one paycheque away from ending up on the street.” I agree with Jim, and when I think of his words of sympathetic understanding, I send a flare-prayer to God for our society which is going through difficult times. Many are looking for a small piece of momentary peace and rest, so they can be released from the world’s pressures crushing down upon its citizens.

      Let me assure you, there is much more than just crumbs of deliverance available from God. There is a whole banquet of mercy, provision, and forgiveness waiting for anyone who desires to sit at the Lord’s table and indulge in a full measure of God’s redemption. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. God is generous and full of grace and mercy wanting no one to be lost. The Lord has gone through a lot of trouble over the centuries to give anyone who calls upon His name a personal audience to be affirmed as the apple of God’s eye, and to be washed of all their sins and shortcomings. God’s table is set, we only need to sit down and eat a full range of the Lord’s heavenly delights. Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

      When Peter and John came across the paralyzed man who was begging for a few crumbs to get by for the day, Peter, through the Holy Spirit gave him a full meal of God’s goodness. Peter did not have gold and silver to meet a temporary need but he had the power of God’s gracious healing that would give this man a whole new life. Acts 3:6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” For all of his life, he had been paralyzed, and in a moment of God’s amazing grace, he was made whole and walked into the temple praising God. He did not get a crumb from God, he got a holy filling that touched his body, soul and spirit. True hope and joy had moved into his heart and life.

      We who have received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour also have this glorious power within each one of us. The issue may be that we have not stepped forward by faith to proclaim who lives within our hearts. The Lord said we would do great work in His name. John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, the one believing in Me, the works that I do, also he will do. And he will do greater than these, because I am going to the Father. We do not need to give out crumbs as if the kingdom of God lacks resources or is on a budget because it lacks funding. The Lord owns the universe and the fullness thereof, and all of what is in the universe is at our disposal for the blessing of mankind. The generous blessings of God are for anyone who looks to God for mercy and the salvation of their lives. The Lord is the only saviour to meet every mental need, physical demand, or soul-filling purpose. Isa. 43:11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me. We do not need to be dogs begging for crumbs at the Lord’s table, but by faith in Christ, we can be sons and daughters who belong to the Lord’s family living in the love God has for us. We can ask Jesus for all that we need according to the will of the Father and live in the assurance of His grace.

      The choice is ours. We can approach God begging like a slave for crumbs or we can approach our Abba Father who loves and takes care of His sons and daughters. Rom. 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Only God can fix the mess we have made of our lives. May we all have the heart to trust what God is doing in our souls, and may we be the hand extended that He uses to bring His mercy to a troubled and broken society. Amen!