Having faith in Jesus is the essential step in our lives because it transforms spiritually and leads to eternal life. Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[1] Faith propels us forward into the unknown as we depend on the Lord to lead us.
As we let the Lord direct our path each day, He makes us into a beautiful quilt of His design. He is the master sculptor and painter of our lives. The Bible tells us that faith opens the door to everything we need to know about the purpose of life, God, His power, His Kingdom, and following Jesus. Walking by faith is necessary to succeed in God’s eyes.
The Faith of a Gentile Woman
A Gentile woman had enough faith to seek out a Jewish Jesus to obtain healing for her daughter. Jews often called Gentiles by a derogatory term meaning a scavenger dog. When the woman went to Jesus, He made a surprising remark. Mark 7: 27 Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.[2] This sounds harsh to our 21st-century ears.
Yet this woman does not take offense. The term for a dog that Jesus used meant a pet puppy. She makes a snappy comeback. Mark 7: 28 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”
29 “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” [3]
Jesus had come to Tyre to get away and teach His disciples, yet this Gentile woman was interrupting. Also, Jesus may be testing the faith of this woman. Either way, we can see that Jesus does not refuse this woman, for Jesus came for all people.
Faith Helps us Step into the Unknown
The Lord wants us all to walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7For we live by believing and not by seeing.[4] Faith is trusting God with what is impossible for us. Casting out the demon that possessed this woman’s daughter was impossible for her but possible with Jesus. One of the most significant aspects of faith is that it is available to anyone, regardless of age or station in life.
Walking by faith requires us to depend on the Lord. It makes us determined to follow God’s plan regardless of what life throws our way. This is what the Gentile woman did and what you can do also. As you walk by faith, you can be an example or a mentor for someone the Lord places in your life. Believers in Jesus may struggle to walk in faith when they lack solid models or encouragement. As you walk by faith and encourage others, you may not realize how you impact those around you.
To hear more about having faith in Jesus, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-caring-for-outcasts
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.