His love over our efforts 2

When God was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies’ oppression as long as the judge was alive, for God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them.

(Judges 2:18)

In the above passage, we are shown how God is moved by compassion to save the very people he had punished. Although Israel had sinned and God had carried out judgement upon them, in his great compassion, he had decided to have mercy. It wasn't that they had been good, but that he was compassionate.

Again, we know that God gives us his Son out of his love for us and not because of our goodness.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16)

Thirdly, in John 8:1-11, Jesus protects an adulteress from being stoned. Out of love, he declares her forgiven. Yet we know, at that time, since he had not yet died, that true forgiveness had not yet been made available. However, it was the same with sin sacrifices. You see, it says in Hebrews 10:4 that "⁴ It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins". Therefore, we see that from the very days of Moses to this incident, no one was truly forgiven. Why? Because God is just and all sin must be punished. The only way for men to avoid punishment for sin is by having a substitute provided – a satisfactory replacement that would take all the punishment meant for the wrongdoer. The problem? There were no satisfactory substitutes because none were pure enough. All the sacrifices carried out using animals were really doing nothing except communicate what God intended to do in Christ. He was telling us his intended plan of salvation when he would finally punish all our sins in Christ. Back then, when Christ hadn’t yet come, God deliberately delayed punishment because he wanted to carry out judgement in Christ. So it says, “²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" (Romans 3:25). Now see the passage below...

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

(Mathew 15:21-28)

In the passage above, we see how faith in the kindness of Jesus led him to call a woman’s faith great. She believed that he had enough kindness to compromise for her daughter's well-being, and he did so. Now mind you, in this passage, although Jesus calls the gentiles “dogs”, he calls them “sheep” in John 10:16. (“¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” – John 10:16). These “other sheep” represented the gentiles, us who he was also willing to die for. Furthermore, in Acts 10, we see The Holy Spirit explicitly have Peter minister salvation to Cornelius and his family, who were gentiles. Peter himself said,

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35).

 Therefore, do not be disturbed by Jesus using the word “dogs”. He loves you no less than he loves Israel! It says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. “Whoever” means “Whoever”, whether African, European or Asian! Furthermore, we are told in 1 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God loves every man and wants every man saved! It is possible his choice of speech was to challenge the woman’s faith in his love, and she passed with flying colors! He likely sensed that she wasn’t fully convinced about his willingness to help her and had to challenge her faith. Remember, back then,the Israelites kept their distance from idol worshipers and considered them unclean. Pastor Joseph Prince has an interesting take on the matter and I encourage you to watch this video: https://youtu.be/rK5r8qCJWww?si=wpW_WmYI0jLO5OxI

He suggests that the woman came to Jesus in pretense – an explanation I think makes great sense because it would explain why Jesus challenged her in the way he did.

What have we learnt when we view all today’s cases? That God's love and faith in this love can acquire things our own efforts cannot qualify us for. Therefore, it says, " ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” (Galatians 3:5). It is by faith, love and power, not by your perfect deeds!

Today, I encourage you to take the focus off of yourself and unto God's love. For his compassion is able to get him to do more for you than your own goodness can. Did not his compassion lead him to die for you? How much more the lesser things? So, it says, “³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

^“30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you” (Mathew 6:30).

Prayer:

Father, please help me to focus on your love and not my efforts. Help me to have faith in your love and not in my efforts. And may I experience the fruits of being loved by you. In Jesus’ name I have asked.