Friday, June 10, 2011
Matthew 15: 25
Then came she and worshiped Him, saying LORD, help me.
WORSHIP COMES BEFORE PETITION
It is often surprising what you can find in one short verse. I know how easy it is to skip over a short verse and move on to the more meaty verses following. This story about the Syrophenician woman is famous and often quoted by Pastors as an example of the great compassion of JESUS. I have also heard theologians mention this as prophecy of the Gospel coming to the Gentiles. But I have not heard a sermon on this verse which teaches that Worship must come before petition.
When we pray, oftentimes we hop right into our petitions, asking favors for our self and for others. In that, we are treating GOD as if He were the universal donor of answered requests; we ask, He gives. Well, I hope that you were offended by what I just said; offended enough to look deeply in to your prayer life and see whether you, too, have fallen into the rhythm of petition before worship.
The gentile woman got it right; she worshiped JESUS, bowing before His great majesty and called Him LORD. If it had been a Jewish woman, you would expect this degree of worship, but the Syrophenician woman was a gentile. She is desperate for the healing of her daughter. In verse 22 she says, "Have mercy on me, O LORD, Thou Son of David." She worshiped the LORD in the only language that she knew, calling Him LORD.
When we are in prayer, do we spend most of our time in worship, praise and adoration for who the LORD is? Are we so enthralled by His Love for us and His great mercy? Are we struck by the beauty that He has created for all to share, the mountains, the rivers, the trees, flowers, rain and the ant that crawls on the leaf? Are we more in love with Him than with ourselves?
Wrapped in worship, carried aloft on the wings of praise, in adoration for the breath of GOD that flows through all creation; then we are in the right atmosphere to say, "help me".
We are to enter into His courts with praise, thankful unto Him, speaking good of His name and dressed in the garments of worship. Then, the petitions reach His heart and the answer is swift and clear.
WORSHIP COMES BEFORE PETITION
Matthew 15: 25
Then came she and worshiped Him, saying LORD, help me.
WORSHIP COMES BEFORE PETITION
It is often surprising what you can find in one short verse. I know how easy it is to skip over a short verse and move on to the more meaty verses following. This story about the Syrophenician woman is famous and often quoted by Pastors as an example of the great compassion of JESUS. I have also heard theologians mention this as prophecy of the Gospel coming to the Gentiles. But I have not heard a sermon on this verse which teaches that Worship must come before petition.
When we pray, oftentimes we hop right into our petitions, asking favors for our self and for others. In that, we are treating GOD as if He were the universal donor of answered requests; we ask, He gives. Well, I hope that you were offended by what I just said; offended enough to look deeply in to your prayer life and see whether you, too, have fallen into the rhythm of petition before worship.
The gentile woman got it right; she worshiped JESUS, bowing before His great majesty and called Him LORD. If it had been a Jewish woman, you would expect this degree of worship, but the Syrophenician woman was a gentile. She is desperate for the healing of her daughter. In verse 22 she says, "Have mercy on me, O LORD, Thou Son of David." She worshiped the LORD in the only language that she knew, calling Him LORD.
When we are in prayer, do we spend most of our time in worship, praise and adoration for who the LORD is? Are we so enthralled by His Love for us and His great mercy? Are we struck by the beauty that He has created for all to share, the mountains, the rivers, the trees, flowers, rain and the ant that crawls on the leaf? Are we more in love with Him than with ourselves?
Wrapped in worship, carried aloft on the wings of praise, in adoration for the breath of GOD that flows through all creation; then we are in the right atmosphere to say, "help me".
We are to enter into His courts with praise, thankful unto Him, speaking good of His name and dressed in the garments of worship. Then, the petitions reach His heart and the answer is swift and clear.
WORSHIP COMES BEFORE PETITION
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