Mark 7:24-30
24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Reflection
Jesus’ ministry consisted of both words and actions. His authoritative teaching took place alongside a continuous display of his power to expel demons, to heal, and to multiply food (Mark 7:24–8:10). Here we see his healing power lovingly extended to a non-Jewish (“Gentile”) woman and her daughter (7:24–30; cf. 13:10; Isa. 42:1, 4, 6, 10–12 and 49:1, 6, 22).
The follower of Christ is first and foremost called to be in a worshipful relationship with God. We must also realize that we have the additional call to go to the ends of the earth proclaiming the good news and living in a way that displays Christ’s love to others. Our lifestyle should include evangelism, compassionate service to those in need, and a social presence that benefits the economic, political, and cultural spheres of our societies.
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
6: Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
0 Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Reflection
Paul wants the Corinthian Christians to open their hearts to him (2 Cor. 6:13) so that they can receive the grace of God (vv. 1–2). He tries to overcome their resistance to his ministry by explaining that his hardships (vv. 4b–5, 8–10) and his spiritual life (vv. 6–7) prove that he is truly a servant of God (vv. 3–4a).
No one wants to have a hard heart, but that is exactly what happens when we grow suspicious of the gospel (v. 12). When we embrace the good news, our hearts grow tender toward others, even if they are “restricted” in their affections for us (vv. 11–12).
Psalm 121:7
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
Pray that God would keep your heart sensitive to his gospel so that you will have a heart that is “wide open” to others (2 Cor. 6:11).