Kingdom Understanding

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. [Matthew 15.28]

I realized something this morning. The woman mentioned in the verse above used reason in her quest of faith in Jesus. I picture her as a quick-witted person - I would imagine she was known for her ability to think and speak without long thought. I also see her as a persistent person. All of this contributed to Jesus saying her faith was great.

What this woman did was exactly what Jesus did in His parables: she used and analogy that compared something well-known to the way faith should be. If what I speculated about the woman in the previous paragraph is not true (about being quick-witted), then she was well-prepared because, being a Syro-Phoenician she would have know very clearly the normally she and a Jew would have little to do with each other.

Perhaps this woman had previously asked herself, "What is the Kingdom of Heaven like?" And perhaps her answer was, "It is like a dog in heaven where, although not the primary focus, is still well taken care of."

Whatever the case may be, the woman's response to Jesus impressed Him. I think we would all do well to study what she said and why she said it! She effectively argued the case of Kingdom priority with the King of Kings! She understood Kingdom operation. She was thinking along Kingdom lines, not worldly lines.

Thinking with Kingdom understanding was interpreted by Jesus as "great faith."

Father, I want to thinking with Kingdom understanding. I want to see Kingdom analogy in the things around me. I want to be so familiar with You that I see You in the things on earth!