It's About Bringing In

Since I didn't do it yesterday, I'm going to do it today.

Reflect on one of the Scripture mornings from yesterday. Which, from other blogs, I have captured the idea to have a few themed days- the first, Scripture Sunday. I'm still toying around with some other ideas, I will let you know when I decide!

What is Scripture Sunday? It is not a sermon. I am by no means a theologian. But I like to reflect on the texts at the end of every Sunday. These are my personal connections and real life applications that I gleaned from personal reflections.

So, without further ado, I present to you the first Scripture Sunday. (Except it's on a Monday this week.)
PS- The next Scripture Sunday will probably fall on another day of the week next week because I've got guest posts lined up for next weekend..)

The Scripture lesson was from Matthew 15:21-28.

I took the approach to this text that this woman was an outsider.

Have you ever felt like an outsider? I imagine you have. It's not a very good feeling.

I remember the first time I felt like an outsider. It was my first day of high school. Being thrown in from a class of about 20 to a class of 200 some. Talk about a rough transition...

I didn't feel it until lunch time. I did not see any of my original classmates anywhere in the enormous cafeteria. I could feel my forehead beginning to sweat, and thinking, "Where is it safe to sit? Where am I welcome?". I don't remember who I sat with or whether or not they were welcoming, that was 9 years ago, but I still remember that paralyzing anxiety of whether or not I'd be welcomed.

I still remember times when I was the one who didn't welcome people. I'm not perfect. They may have seemed rather insignificant, especially if I typed them out, but I know I've flawed in that area as well.

As I was looking at this text, I couldn't help but think, "Jesus, did you really just pretty much tell that Canaanite woman to get lost?" He did. She was pretty much saying,
"YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME, AND I GOT SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ASK YOU!"

And He pretty much tells her to take a hike. Jesus didn't welcome her.  In fact, in His own terms, He called her a dog.

And He wasn't going to give her the time of day. Until she made this remark,
"Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table..."

And then He snaps around and tells her she's got amazing faith.

And He welcomes her. She's no longer an outsider. She's welcome in.

And that's the way we are too. No matter what shape we're in, no matter what faults we have, no matter how much we've done wrong, we are welcome in.


You know, I've realized I've had an attitude problem with God. I've given Him these excuses before..
"You don’t matter as much as I do."

"Your will is not the same as my will."

"You don’t want the same thing I want".

And because of that, He's got every right to shut me out and consider me an outsider.

But He's full of forgiveness, and He responds, "I want you. Heaven is not full until you're there."

And He says the same thing to you, too.

Have you ever felt like an outsider? It hurts. I still struggle with it in some instances, especially with the 3 who have shut me out and refused me time and time again.

That's not what it's about. It's not about how many people we can shut out of our lives. That is so messed up! I cannot understand what would possess someone to deliberately shut someone out of their lives, who deserves their Christian love, compassion and forgiveness.

It's not about how many people we can shut out. It's about how many people we can bring into our lives.

And it's about how many people we can share the love of Jesus with. 

Finding Jesus and finding God is like finding a treasure. People have said to me since being home, "Where did you find all of that enthusiasm and joy for life?"

And I've been happy to respond, "From God!"

When we have such treasures, people wonder, "Where'd you get it? How'd you find it? How'd you get the way you got? Where can I get it?"

And you can tell them, from God. Bring them in. Don't shut them out.

If you're shutting people out of your life, stop. Bring them in. Welcome them. Show them where you found your joy. That's what it's about.