WEEK 3 — UNEXPECTED REVELATIONS
January 19, 2026 – January 25, 2026
Last week, we explored how God's light breaks every barrier—how the Magi's journey fulfilled Isaiah's ancient promise that "nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
We saw Jesus' birth as God's announcement that His salvation was radically inclusive, drawing foreigners from distant lands to worship Israel's King.
This week, we're shifting our focus to another pattern of divine revelation: God's habit of choosing the most unlikely messengers. While the Magi represented nations coming to the light, this week's stories show us how Jesus revealed Himself to people who were right there in Israel but overlooked by the religious establishment.
Again, the Old Testament sets the stage. Samuel reminds us that "the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
Hannah's song declares that God "raises up the poor from the dust" and "lifts the needy from the ash heap" (1 Samuel 2:8). Throughout Scripture, God consistently chooses the unexpected to carry His most important messages.
This Week's Focus: When God Chooses the Unlikely
We'll encounter elderly prophets, broken women, desperate mothers, and others whom society had written off—yet each became a powerful voice of divine revelation. Their stories reveal something profound: those with the least social power often have the clearest spiritual sight.
The light of Christ doesn't just shine on the unexpected—it shines through them to illuminate truth the "qualified" often miss entirely.
DAY 15 — When the Elderly See Clearly
Monday - Scripture: Luke 2:25-30
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him... Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus... Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation...'"
In 1955, an elderly janitor named Charlie worked nights at a research hospital in Philadelphia. While emptying trash cans in the lab, he noticed something unusual in the microscope slides being thrown away. Though he had no scientific training, his years of observing patterns made him curious.
He mentioned it to a young researcher, who initially dismissed his observation. But Charlie persisted. "I've been cleaning these labs for twenty years. This looks different." When the researcher finally looked, Charlie had spotted the early signs of what became a breakthrough in cancer cell identification.
The researcher later said: "Wisdom isn't just about education. Sometimes the person who has watched the longest sees what the experts miss."
Reflection:
Simeon wasn't a priest, scholar, or religious authority. He was simply an old man who had been watching and waiting longer than anyone else. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the ordinary ritual of dedication, Simeon's practiced eyes saw what others missed—the salvation of the world in the arms of young parents.
God often reveals Himself through those who have learned to watch patiently rather than those who think they know what to look for.
Who are the "Simeons" in your life—older, wiser people whose spiritual perception might see things you're missing?
Prayer:
Lord, give me the patience to watch and wait for You like Simeon did.
Help me listen to the wisdom of those who have been walking with You longer than I have.
Open my eyes to see Your salvation in ordinary moments. Amen.
DAY 16 — The Prophetess Who Wouldn't Be Silenced
Tuesday - Scripture: Luke 2:36-38
"There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
In 1955, Septima Clark was a veteran teacher in South Carolina who had been quietly fighting for civil rights for decades. When the NAACP was banned in her state, she was fired from her teaching job and lost her pension. Most people expected her to retreat into quiet retirement.
Instead, at age 57, Clark intensified her work. She developed citizenship schools across the South, teaching people to read so they could register to vote. She traveled constantly, often alone, to remote communities.
When younger civil rights leaders wanted to focus on dramatic protests, Clark insisted that patient, persistent education was just as important.
Martin Luther King Jr. later called her "the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," but Clark said: "I just couldn't stop talking about what I had seen. When you know the truth, silence becomes impossible."
Reflection:
Anna had been widowed for over fifty years, spending her time in prayer and fasting at the temple. In the ancient world, elderly widows were often ignored or forgotten. But when she saw Jesus, she became an evangelist—immediately "speaking about the child to all who were looking for redemption."
God often chooses to reveal Himself through those society considers past their usefulness. Anna's age and life experience didn't disqualify her from ministry—they prepared her for it.
How might God be calling you to share what you've seen of Him, even if others might consider you an unlikely messenger?
Prayer:
Lord, help me never consider myself too old, too tired, or too overlooked to share what I've experienced of You.
Give me Anna's persistence in prayer and her boldness in proclamation.
Use my life experience to recognize and announce Your presence. Amen.
DAY 17 — The Father's Public Endorsement
Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 3:16-17
"And when Jesus was baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.'"
In 1963, Johnny Cash was struggling with prescription drug addiction and his marriage was falling apart. His career was declining, and most industry executives had written him off. But his father-in-law, Ezra Carter, never stopped believing in him.
At a family gathering, when others were quietly discussing Johnny's problems, Ezra stood up and said loudly, "This man right here has more talent and heart than anyone in this room. He's going through a hard time, but he's still my boy, and I'm proud of him."
Johnny later said that moment was a turning point: "When someone you respect says they're proud of you—especially when you're not proud of yourself—it can change everything. It reminded me who I really was underneath all the mess."
Reflection:
Jesus hadn't performed any miracles yet. He hadn't preached the Sermon on the Mount. He hadn't died and risen. Yet at His baptism, the Father's voice thundered approval: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
God's love isn't based on our performance—it's based on our identity as His children. The Father's pleasure comes not from what we accomplish but from who we are in relationship to Him.
How would your life change if you truly believed God is pleased with you, not because of what you do but because of whose you are?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me hear Your voice of approval over the voices of criticism and self-doubt.
Remind me that Your love is based on relationship, not performance.
Let Your pleasure in me give me confidence to step into Your calling. Amen.
DAY 18 — When the Wine Runs Out
Thursday - Scripture: John 2:3-5
"When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'"
In 1953, a young medical student named Paul Farmer was working in a rural clinic in Haiti when they ran out of basic antibiotics during a typhoid outbreak. The nearest pharmacy was days away, and several patients were critically ill.
Farmer's supervisor said, "There's nothing more we can do. This is just how it is here."
But Farmer refused to accept that. He spent his own money to charter a plane to get the medication.
His supervisor criticized him: "You can't save everyone. This isn't sustainable."
Farmer later founded Partners in Health, revolutionizing medical care in the developing world. He said: "Someone has to believe that empty doesn't have to mean empty forever.
When you see a need, you either find a way or you become the way."
Reflection:
Mary saw a social crisis brewing—running out of wine at a wedding meant family shame and financial disaster for the hosts. Jesus initially seemed reluctant to intervene, but Mary persisted with remarkable faith: "Do whatever he tells you."
She recognized that Jesus had power to transform impossible situations, even when He seemed hesitant to act. Her confidence in Him prompted His first miracle.
What "empty" situation in your life might God want to transform if you have the faith to ask and the patience to wait for His timing?
Prayer:
Lord, like Mary, help me bring the impossible situations to You.
Give me faith to believe You can transform what seems hopeless.
Help me trust Your timing even when it doesn't match my urgency. Amen.
DAY 19 — The Woman at the Well
Friday - Scripture: John 4:13-18
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty and never have to keep coming here to draw water.'
Jesus said to her, 'Go, call your husband and come back.' The woman answered him, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You are right in saying, "I have no husband"; for you have five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!'"
In 2018, a woman named Maria was living in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles, struggling with addiction. Every day she went to various social service agencies looking for help—food stamps, job training, temporary housing. The paperwork was endless, and nothing seemed to last.
One day at a community center, a volunteer asked her, "What if instead of just getting you through another day, we worked on changing your whole situation?" That question changed everything. Maria entered a comprehensive program that addressed not just her immediate needs but the underlying issues that kept her cycling through crisis.
Two years later, Maria was housed, employed, and helping other women in similar situations. She said: "I had been drinking from shallow wells my whole life. Someone finally offered me the deep water."
Reflection:
The Samaritan woman came to the well at noon—the hottest part of the day—likely to avoid other people who might judge her complicated relationships. She expected another routine transaction: draw water, go home, return tomorrow.
Instead, Jesus offered her water that would end the cycle of temporary satisfaction. But first, He lovingly confronted the patterns that kept her thirsty.
What cycles of temporary satisfaction might Jesus want to break in your life? What "deep water" is He offering that you've been afraid to accept?
Prayer:
Lord, I'm tired of shallow wells that never satisfy for long.
Give me courage to let You address the deeper issues in my life.
Fill me with Your living water that springs up to eternal life. Amen.
DAY 20 — She Becomes an Evangelist
Saturday - Scripture: John 4:28-30
"Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 'Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?' They left the city and were coming to him."
In 2003, Cheryl Strayed's life was falling apart. After her mother's death, she had spiraled into destructive behavior, destroyed her marriage, and felt completely lost. In desperation, she decided to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, despite having no backpacking experience.
The journey was brutal, but it changed her life. When she returned, she began writing about the experience—not hiding her failures and poor choices, but being brutally honest about them. Her memoir "Wild" became a bestseller and inspired thousands of people to face their own broken places.
Cheryl said: "I thought my mess disqualified me from helping anyone. But it turned out that my willingness to be honest about my mess was exactly what people needed to hear."
Reflection:
The woman at the well did something remarkable: she left her water jar and ran to tell others about Jesus. She didn't clean up her life first. She didn't wait until she had all the answers. She didn't hide her complicated past.
Instead, she used her story—the very story she had been ashamed of—as her testimony. "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!" Her honesty about her past became the bridge that led others to Jesus.
How might God want to use your story—including the messy parts—to point others toward Him?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my story as a testimony rather than a shame.
Give me courage to be honest about how You've met me in my brokenness.
Use my experience to help others find their way to You. Amen.
DAY 21 — Faith Beyond Boundaries
Sunday - Scripture: Mark 7:26-29
"Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, 'Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she answered him, 'Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.' Then he said to her, 'For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.'"
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was escorted by federal marshals to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. The crowds outside screamed threats, and white families pulled their children from the school. Ruby ate lunch alone, attended classes alone, and walked through hatred alone.
But every morning, her teacher noticed Ruby would stop outside the school and appear to be talking to the crowd. When asked about it, Ruby explained: "I wasn't talking to them. I was praying for them. My grandma told me to pray for people who are mean to me, because they probably need Jesus the most."
That six-year-old's faith reached beyond the boundaries of race, age, and education to touch hearts that seemed hardened beyond hope.
Reflection:
This Syrophoenician woman had three strikes against her: she was female, foreign, and asking for help from someone whose people typically excluded her people. Yet she approached Jesus anyway, and when He seemed to rebuff her, she persisted with clever, humble faith.
Her faith reached beyond ethnic boundaries, cultural barriers, and even apparent rejection. She believed God's grace was big enough to include her, even if she had to settle for "crumbs."
Where might God be calling you to have faith that reaches beyond conventional boundaries? What "crumbs" of grace might be bigger than you imagine?
Prayer:
Lord, give me faith that refuses to be limited by human boundaries.
Help me persist in prayer even when the answer seems delayed.
Expand my understanding of how wide and deep Your mercy reaches. Amen.
January 19, 2026 – January 25, 2026
Last week, we explored how God's light breaks every barrier—how the Magi's journey fulfilled Isaiah's ancient promise that "nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
We saw Jesus' birth as God's announcement that His salvation was radically inclusive, drawing foreigners from distant lands to worship Israel's King.
This week, we're shifting our focus to another pattern of divine revelation: God's habit of choosing the most unlikely messengers. While the Magi represented nations coming to the light, this week's stories show us how Jesus revealed Himself to people who were right there in Israel but overlooked by the religious establishment.
Again, the Old Testament sets the stage. Samuel reminds us that "the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
Hannah's song declares that God "raises up the poor from the dust" and "lifts the needy from the ash heap" (1 Samuel 2:8). Throughout Scripture, God consistently chooses the unexpected to carry His most important messages.
This Week's Focus: When God Chooses the Unlikely
We'll encounter elderly prophets, broken women, desperate mothers, and others whom society had written off—yet each became a powerful voice of divine revelation. Their stories reveal something profound: those with the least social power often have the clearest spiritual sight.
The light of Christ doesn't just shine on the unexpected—it shines through them to illuminate truth the "qualified" often miss entirely.
DAY 15 — When the Elderly See Clearly
Monday - Scripture: Luke 2:25-30
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him... Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus... Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation...'"
In 1955, an elderly janitor named Charlie worked nights at a research hospital in Philadelphia. While emptying trash cans in the lab, he noticed something unusual in the microscope slides being thrown away. Though he had no scientific training, his years of observing patterns made him curious.
He mentioned it to a young researcher, who initially dismissed his observation. But Charlie persisted. "I've been cleaning these labs for twenty years. This looks different." When the researcher finally looked, Charlie had spotted the early signs of what became a breakthrough in cancer cell identification.
The researcher later said: "Wisdom isn't just about education. Sometimes the person who has watched the longest sees what the experts miss."
Reflection:
Simeon wasn't a priest, scholar, or religious authority. He was simply an old man who had been watching and waiting longer than anyone else. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the ordinary ritual of dedication, Simeon's practiced eyes saw what others missed—the salvation of the world in the arms of young parents.
God often reveals Himself through those who have learned to watch patiently rather than those who think they know what to look for.
Who are the "Simeons" in your life—older, wiser people whose spiritual perception might see things you're missing?
Prayer:
Lord, give me the patience to watch and wait for You like Simeon did.
Help me listen to the wisdom of those who have been walking with You longer than I have.
Open my eyes to see Your salvation in ordinary moments. Amen.
DAY 16 — The Prophetess Who Wouldn't Be Silenced
Tuesday - Scripture: Luke 2:36-38
"There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
In 1955, Septima Clark was a veteran teacher in South Carolina who had been quietly fighting for civil rights for decades. When the NAACP was banned in her state, she was fired from her teaching job and lost her pension. Most people expected her to retreat into quiet retirement.
Instead, at age 57, Clark intensified her work. She developed citizenship schools across the South, teaching people to read so they could register to vote. She traveled constantly, often alone, to remote communities.
When younger civil rights leaders wanted to focus on dramatic protests, Clark insisted that patient, persistent education was just as important.
Martin Luther King Jr. later called her "the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," but Clark said: "I just couldn't stop talking about what I had seen. When you know the truth, silence becomes impossible."
Reflection:
Anna had been widowed for over fifty years, spending her time in prayer and fasting at the temple. In the ancient world, elderly widows were often ignored or forgotten. But when she saw Jesus, she became an evangelist—immediately "speaking about the child to all who were looking for redemption."
God often chooses to reveal Himself through those society considers past their usefulness. Anna's age and life experience didn't disqualify her from ministry—they prepared her for it.
How might God be calling you to share what you've seen of Him, even if others might consider you an unlikely messenger?
Prayer:
Lord, help me never consider myself too old, too tired, or too overlooked to share what I've experienced of You.
Give me Anna's persistence in prayer and her boldness in proclamation.
Use my life experience to recognize and announce Your presence. Amen.
DAY 17 — The Father's Public Endorsement
Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 3:16-17
"And when Jesus was baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.'"
In 1963, Johnny Cash was struggling with prescription drug addiction and his marriage was falling apart. His career was declining, and most industry executives had written him off. But his father-in-law, Ezra Carter, never stopped believing in him.
At a family gathering, when others were quietly discussing Johnny's problems, Ezra stood up and said loudly, "This man right here has more talent and heart than anyone in this room. He's going through a hard time, but he's still my boy, and I'm proud of him."
Johnny later said that moment was a turning point: "When someone you respect says they're proud of you—especially when you're not proud of yourself—it can change everything. It reminded me who I really was underneath all the mess."
Reflection:
Jesus hadn't performed any miracles yet. He hadn't preached the Sermon on the Mount. He hadn't died and risen. Yet at His baptism, the Father's voice thundered approval: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
God's love isn't based on our performance—it's based on our identity as His children. The Father's pleasure comes not from what we accomplish but from who we are in relationship to Him.
How would your life change if you truly believed God is pleased with you, not because of what you do but because of whose you are?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me hear Your voice of approval over the voices of criticism and self-doubt.
Remind me that Your love is based on relationship, not performance.
Let Your pleasure in me give me confidence to step into Your calling. Amen.
DAY 18 — When the Wine Runs Out
Thursday - Scripture: John 2:3-5
"When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'"
In 1953, a young medical student named Paul Farmer was working in a rural clinic in Haiti when they ran out of basic antibiotics during a typhoid outbreak. The nearest pharmacy was days away, and several patients were critically ill.
Farmer's supervisor said, "There's nothing more we can do. This is just how it is here."
But Farmer refused to accept that. He spent his own money to charter a plane to get the medication.
His supervisor criticized him: "You can't save everyone. This isn't sustainable."
Farmer later founded Partners in Health, revolutionizing medical care in the developing world. He said: "Someone has to believe that empty doesn't have to mean empty forever.
When you see a need, you either find a way or you become the way."
Reflection:
Mary saw a social crisis brewing—running out of wine at a wedding meant family shame and financial disaster for the hosts. Jesus initially seemed reluctant to intervene, but Mary persisted with remarkable faith: "Do whatever he tells you."
She recognized that Jesus had power to transform impossible situations, even when He seemed hesitant to act. Her confidence in Him prompted His first miracle.
What "empty" situation in your life might God want to transform if you have the faith to ask and the patience to wait for His timing?
Prayer:
Lord, like Mary, help me bring the impossible situations to You.
Give me faith to believe You can transform what seems hopeless.
Help me trust Your timing even when it doesn't match my urgency. Amen.
DAY 19 — The Woman at the Well
Friday - Scripture: John 4:13-18
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty and never have to keep coming here to draw water.'
Jesus said to her, 'Go, call your husband and come back.' The woman answered him, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You are right in saying, "I have no husband"; for you have five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!'"
In 2018, a woman named Maria was living in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles, struggling with addiction. Every day she went to various social service agencies looking for help—food stamps, job training, temporary housing. The paperwork was endless, and nothing seemed to last.
One day at a community center, a volunteer asked her, "What if instead of just getting you through another day, we worked on changing your whole situation?" That question changed everything. Maria entered a comprehensive program that addressed not just her immediate needs but the underlying issues that kept her cycling through crisis.
Two years later, Maria was housed, employed, and helping other women in similar situations. She said: "I had been drinking from shallow wells my whole life. Someone finally offered me the deep water."
Reflection:
The Samaritan woman came to the well at noon—the hottest part of the day—likely to avoid other people who might judge her complicated relationships. She expected another routine transaction: draw water, go home, return tomorrow.
Instead, Jesus offered her water that would end the cycle of temporary satisfaction. But first, He lovingly confronted the patterns that kept her thirsty.
What cycles of temporary satisfaction might Jesus want to break in your life? What "deep water" is He offering that you've been afraid to accept?
Prayer:
Lord, I'm tired of shallow wells that never satisfy for long.
Give me courage to let You address the deeper issues in my life.
Fill me with Your living water that springs up to eternal life. Amen.
DAY 20 — She Becomes an Evangelist
Saturday - Scripture: John 4:28-30
"Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 'Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?' They left the city and were coming to him."
In 2003, Cheryl Strayed's life was falling apart. After her mother's death, she had spiraled into destructive behavior, destroyed her marriage, and felt completely lost. In desperation, she decided to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, despite having no backpacking experience.
The journey was brutal, but it changed her life. When she returned, she began writing about the experience—not hiding her failures and poor choices, but being brutally honest about them. Her memoir "Wild" became a bestseller and inspired thousands of people to face their own broken places.
Cheryl said: "I thought my mess disqualified me from helping anyone. But it turned out that my willingness to be honest about my mess was exactly what people needed to hear."
Reflection:
The woman at the well did something remarkable: she left her water jar and ran to tell others about Jesus. She didn't clean up her life first. She didn't wait until she had all the answers. She didn't hide her complicated past.
Instead, she used her story—the very story she had been ashamed of—as her testimony. "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!" Her honesty about her past became the bridge that led others to Jesus.
How might God want to use your story—including the messy parts—to point others toward Him?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my story as a testimony rather than a shame.
Give me courage to be honest about how You've met me in my brokenness.
Use my experience to help others find their way to You. Amen.
DAY 21 — Faith Beyond Boundaries
Sunday - Scripture: Mark 7:26-29
"Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, 'Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she answered him, 'Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.' Then he said to her, 'For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.'"
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was escorted by federal marshals to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. The crowds outside screamed threats, and white families pulled their children from the school. Ruby ate lunch alone, attended classes alone, and walked through hatred alone.
But every morning, her teacher noticed Ruby would stop outside the school and appear to be talking to the crowd. When asked about it, Ruby explained: "I wasn't talking to them. I was praying for them. My grandma told me to pray for people who are mean to me, because they probably need Jesus the most."
That six-year-old's faith reached beyond the boundaries of race, age, and education to touch hearts that seemed hardened beyond hope.
Reflection:
This Syrophoenician woman had three strikes against her: she was female, foreign, and asking for help from someone whose people typically excluded her people. Yet she approached Jesus anyway, and when He seemed to rebuff her, she persisted with clever, humble faith.
Her faith reached beyond ethnic boundaries, cultural barriers, and even apparent rejection. She believed God's grace was big enough to include her, even if she had to settle for "crumbs."
Where might God be calling you to have faith that reaches beyond conventional boundaries? What "crumbs" of grace might be bigger than you imagine?
Prayer:
Lord, give me faith that refuses to be limited by human boundaries.
Help me persist in prayer even when the answer seems delayed.
Expand my understanding of how wide and deep Your mercy reaches. Amen.
1 Comment
Thank You for Your merciful call and the unconditional love it comes from. I pray I am alert and sensitive to Your continued and persistent love.