When to slow down
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· 6 viewsKnowing when you are on mission and when to stop
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Transcript
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 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.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
I came here to ask you, do you know when to stay on mission and when to slow down in compassion?
Anyone else struggle with this passage when they first read it?
We see in this passage a few things
A woman asking for help
She was a Canaanite woman with no context of who Jesus was and why he was here
In other words
A distraction
Fruitless endeavor
Jesus on mission
He was put on this earth for one mission, to save the Israelites
His heart was bent towards the Jewish people and at this time only them, for that was what God asked him to do
We see in verse 25 that she expressed a moment of desperation because she knew the power of Jesus
In this time it was not normal for the canaanites to understand the power of Jesus, but she did!
So we see his response
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
His response was compassion!
The heart of a father is to love his children
We must pick up the mantle of loving his children but we must pair it with knowing when to stay on mission.
The Lord has called each one of us for a mission and we must steward that mission in everything that we do
that means we have a mandate to steward our time accordingly
Scenarios:
Person walks in with their head down and is quiet when they are usually full of energy/full of joy
What do you do?
Address it!
Hey I noticed you came in today a little down, whats going on?
This does not need to be a long conversation!
You allow them to talk it out and then pray with them! You are not the savior of people! Most people just need to encounter the Lord
Invite them into how they can connect with God while doing whatever project you are doing!
What happens if you address it and they brush it off?
Let them!
Communicate with them that you are here for them if they need anything but let people process and then come in!
We cannot be the savior of people
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
If even Jesus brought himself low to that of a man, why do we struggle with it?
We cannot save, we cannot heal, we cannot sustain
But God can!
Push people to an encounter immediately
This can look like
Hey can I walk you through a couple scriptures that have helped me in this subject and then have them go meditate on them
Teach them to pray through a scripture
Take time to pray together as a team so that everyone gets invited to an encounter
Push them to an encounter with God after they leave
Give them a scripture to meditate on
Follow up with them about that scripture within 2 days!
Give them resources! Or ask someone you know who can speak into it to suggest resources
How do I know I need to slow down?
They communicate it!
Ask them questions - Let them open the door!
Is this something we need to talk about right now or can we meet another time?
Do you think we can process in 5-10 minutes?
Their words are harsher then usual (Could be sarcasm or passive aggressiveness)
Call them out
Ask them why it feels harsher
Ask them how their heart is
This is different then how they are
it will allow them to look inside and if everything is clear, everything is clear. If not, address it and ask those previous questions
Is this something we need to talk about right now or can we meet another time?
Do you think we can process in 5-10 minutes?
Questions are your best friend!
Question cause a pause and look inside
questions cause them to find the answer instead of being told an answer which is always better
As we go throughout our week and month lets be diligent on asking the Lord when to slow down but staying on the mission he is calling us to!
He has called us to balance both compassion and whatever mission is currently in our path!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
