Day 140/260: Read Matthew 15

Racism is ugly. The hatred that spurs on bigotry has no roots in Christian character whatsoever. Yet, it has been a problem for millennia—not only in America, but across the globe.

The apostles, all Jewish men, were bigots against the Gentiles for many years. Sure, they were a product of their times, but they were still wrong. Anyone who was not a Jew was considered a “dog.” How dare a woman from Canaan approach the Jewish Messiah with a request for help!

This woman requested a miracle from the Lord, but he allowed the disciples to answer for Him at first. “Send her away!” He played along with their bigotry for a moment, hoping to teach them a lesson. He said He was sent to Israel, and that it would not be fair to take Israel’s blessings and give it to a lesser race.

She wisely replied that she was only a little dog, a puppy if you will, and what she requested was simply a crumb that fell from the table.

The Lord commended her faith and granted her request. “And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Sadly, the apostles’ racist attitude was not healed for many years after.

Can we learn from this lesson? Can we do better toward those who are different from us?

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

Matthew 12:36. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”

Pray

Pray for a loving heart toward the downtrodden and oppressed.