Accepted in the beloved! ~ Jack Graham

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

-- Matthew 15:24-25

Do you know that you can come to Jesus just as you are, regardless of your nationality, your station, or religious background? It’s true!

We see Jesus’ open arms portrayed beautifully in Matthew 15 when a woman sought and begged him to deliver her demon-possessed daughter.

You see, as a Greek, she was about as far outside the family of faith as you could get. In fact, it was not uncommon for Greek women to serve as prostitutes in the courts of the Canaanites, as part of their pagan worship rituals. So this woman was one of the least likely people you’d expect to seek after Jesus.

But Jesus did not reject her, despite her sin and the fact that she wasn’t even Jewish.

Why do you think Jesus responded to her? It’s simple. He responded to her because of her relentless faith! This woman was completely reliant on Jesus’ ability to save her daughter, and she pursued him passionately. And as a result, Jesus told her, “Woman, you have great faith.” Her faith brought her into proximity with Jesus, and Jesus met her at her point of need.

Relentless faith in Jesus will draw you to him and into the true family of God. So whoever you are, wherever you’ve been, and whatever you’ve done, believe in him and his power to save.

YOU CAN COME TO JESUS JUST AS YOU ARE, REGARDLESS OF YOUR NATIONALITY, YOUR STATION, OR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND.