Just as I Am
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1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Learning from Children
Learning from Children
Martin Luther found great comfort in and inspiration from his children. Disturbed and depressed by his enemies, one day he noticed little Martin nursing in his mother’s arms and remarked, “Child, your enemies are the Pope, the Bishops, Duke George, Ferdinand, and the devil. And there you are … unconcerned.” Even as he noticed his child’s complete trust, he realized his own anxiety was unwarranted; God had promised to protect him.
On another occasion Luther came upon Anasthasia, his four-year-old, prattling away about Christ, angels, and heaven. Whereupon the noted churchman said, “My dear child, if only one could hold fast to this faith.” Quickly she replied, “Why, Papa, don’t you believe it?” Luther was shocked and later wrote, “Christ has made the children our teachers.”
Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
In the 9th through the 11th chapters of Romans, Paul addresses the question: “What about Israel? Has God given up His plans concerning them?” If as it appears, the Old Testament was all about God’s relationship with the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and now, the church is becoming more and more populated by Gentiles, “What does this mean?””
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
There are a lot of sermons being preached today regarding this meeting between Jesus and the Canaanite, or Syro-Phoenician, woman concerning her demonized daughter. Some of them will receive the praise of social media because they focus on things that tickle men’s ears in this hour and affirm the wisdom of the world, but they will completely miss the mark.
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Jesus goes to an area that is outside of His mission area - the district of Tyre and Sidon. This is Gentile territory, where the Messianic promise in operation is Isaiah 42:4 (ESV) - “He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”
22 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.”
“Lord, have mercy” - three simple words; three powerful words. The best prayers are like that, not vague flowery fountains of verbiage, but the direct recognition of who God is, who we are, and what we need to say to Him, whether it is a petition or an acknowledgement, a request or a thanksgiving. The Lord’s Prayer is just seven such statements strung together. The Lord knows just what we need.
23 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.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Jesus says nothing to her; she who, as a Gentile, acknowledges who He is, the promised Messiah. Some argue as to whether the disciples meant for Jesus to turn her away empty or satisfied; I doubt that it much mattered. They just wanted to be left alone.
But she didn’t come to them; she came to Him. She wasn’t looking for the to do anything; her eyes and her hope was in Jesus. She was a Gentile, and she knew that she could put her hope in Him.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
She didn’t ask Jesus to do what He had not promised; she didn’t ask Him to pretend that she was of Israel; she didn’t ask Him to go out of His way on her account. The rain falls on the just and the unjust; the sun shines on the righteous and the unrighteous. She only asks to be allowed to reap a passing blessing based upon His presence there and then. She has come to the Messianic Table; not asking for an invitation, but merely to be able to catch what the “children” have allowed to fall to the ground. She did what was just, she loved mercy, and she was now walking humbly.
28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
He answered her prayer, not because she earned it, but because she trusted Him to do what was right, not because He owed it to her, but because He was the One to whom she could look in hope.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine” - those words have given much comfort to sinners who know that it is only the grace and mercy of God, revealed in the cross of Christ, that enables them to approach God in hope.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Because He is Jesus Christ, the incarnation of the God of all grace, not Shiva, the destroyer of worlds or Allah the god who cannot be approached, we are given access to the riches of God’s mercy. We can ask, seek, and knock with persistence, because He has revealed Himself to be the One who responds to the fervent effectual prayers of the righteous. We don’t look to man for help, for it is vain. We don’t turn to godless systems to put our trust in them, because there is no life in them. Instead, we are numbered among those who are
2 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.
“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”
It doesn’t matter what the wisdom of this age offers; it doesn’t matter how loudly the demons shriek “there is no help for you in God.” We know, based upon His promise, that “God is a present help in trouble.”
1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.
The world says that nothing is going to change, but we know better, because the Lord is a promise keeper.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
“I because I’m happy -” Why? Jesus is mine, and I’m grafted into the Vine.
“I sing because I’m free -” The world might not see it, but God says it!
“His eye is on the sparrow -” our God cares for all of His creation, every sinner in every nation, He loves and claims as His own.
“and I know He watches over me -” not because of me, not because of you, but for the sake of Christ who died for me, and for you.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.