Crumbs for Christ?
Something unusual happened to me today. As I sometimes do, I took a walk to an area in which I frequently pray. I was there to cry out to God, and seek Him for encouragement in faith. The Lord met me, and by His Spirit, He helped me to pray (Romans 8:26,27).
What was unusual (for myself) about this time, is that God gave me a message to share with His church. I have been greatly led of Christ in my writings, and I do seek Him repeatedly for wisdom in bringing forth His truth, which is His Word (John 14:6, 17:17). Yet for God’s own reasons, today He told me to bring forth this message I will write about. Specifically, I was also to preach it, but the Lord will have to provide the opportunities for that, as He so chooses. In the meantime, I will share it when and with whom I can. I will not be ashamed of Christ and His words (Luke 9:26).
This message that I must share will not be received by many who need it. There is no doubt that some will not need it as urgently as most others; God alone knows each individual heart. But He is calling out to His people while there is still time; warning us, beseeching us. I pray that God will bless the words of this message He has given, quickening them by His Spirit into application by many who profess the name of Christ. Will you heed the voice of Him who calls to you? This is that one who purchased your salvation with His own blood; the one that you call Lord.
This message begins with a scripture account which I will address from Matthew 15:21-28. You will also find the story in Mark 7:24-30. It is a story of great humility; about one who “hungered and thirsted” after crumbs that Christ might give her. Let’s look at the story now;
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Matthew 15:21-28
It is not hard to be touched by this story. This woman knew that she needed Jesus; the divine healing which only His touch could provide. She knew it so clearly, that she was not deterred even when Jesus seemed to ignore her (verse 23), or when He indirectly implied her worth as that of a dog (verse 26)! Our Lord was providing for all of us an example of persistence, along with faith. Surely as believers we have each experienced times when it seemed that God did not regard our prayers, such as we see in this example.
This woman had humility; she worshipped the Lord, and continued to seek the help which she knew only He could give! Yet even the truth presented directly by this story is not the message that the Lord wants me to bring. This account is an example of the Lord’s way of righteousness, and therefore it should bring conviction and shame (John 16:7,8) for how we have departed from it.
God has shown me that today, most of the people who profess to be Christians treat their so-named Lord as a dog beneath their table. Consider now your ways of handling the mercy you have received from God, and how dogs are commonly treated by their owners. If you are honest, you will acknowledge that this is many times the case; that we are treating our Savior as a master would his dog.
Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Haggai 1:5-7
Jesus implores us to return to Him, and to put Him in His rightful place in our lives. He tells us that the word He has spoken to us, is that which will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). He asks why we call Him Lord, and do not the things that He says (Luke 6:46)? Then He reminds us with urgency, that if a man love Him (Jesus) that he will keep His words (John 14:23). If we are His in truth, we should not shy away from being proven by these considerations today.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:20,21
Perhaps your dog is not allowed near your dining table. He has his place while you are eating, and you dutifully feed him once per day. Perhaps there are times when life is so hectic, you have forgotten to feed him, or refill his water.
He is there to be your companion; but are you his? He will consistently draw near to you, but when do you seek him out? Perhaps he is on your lap, or loyally at your feet; yet the main focus of your attention is somewhere else. If he is annoying you by his devotion/attention/affection; perhaps interfering with another thing you wish to do, you chain him, or put him outside, or put him into another room.
It may be so when you have guests, as well. Yes, some dogs are allowed to interact with guests; they are well-behaved, and “know their place.” But many will put their dogs away when company comes; as if they are ashamed of their pet, and find it at times inconvenient that he is a part of their lives. Some people may get a 2nd dog to be a “companion” for the first; thereby requiring even less commitment from themselves, time-wise. They gladly afford the extra financial cost it may bring, as long as they needn’t provide a deeper part of themselves to either pet.
When people walk their dogs in public, they are kept on a leash. Sometimes they are allowed to interact with others, but mostly are not allowed to. The dog on a leash is always being controlled; I have seen some treated very roughly by the controller of the leash.
In time, for one reason or other, you will replace your dog. You still want a dog, but you may purchase a different breed because you deem them more compatible to your life. Some will want a small dog to not get in the way. A large dog may offer more protection from intruders. Short hair dogs are not as bad for cleaning purposes. Some dogs may be purchased specifically in regard to your children. No matter what the reasoning may be, your purchase of a dog is always according to your own values and convenience. You may love your dog dearly, but you are always his master, he is not yours. Yes, having such a pet can change the way you do things, but it will always be as you allow; if the inconvenience becomes too great, your dog will be removed or replaced.
Hear, then, what the Lord is saying to those who profess to know His name. Why have you treated me as a dog in your lives? You feed me with scraps under your table, whatever you feel you can spare. Why do I not rather have the high place of honor at your feasts? How can I have this high honor at your feasts, when your hearts are so far away from my Lordship? Even when your lips honor me, your heart is far from me.
It is a time of great urgency, my people. All that you have known is about to be overthrown, and come to an end. Will you, too, be destroyed with those who have hated me? Would you not rather yield yourselves to my will, and live? You have left your first love, and became a lukewarm offense in my mouth; how can you think that I would not spew you out? Yet I would not to disown you in such a way, but would rather gather you to myself, as a hen does her chicks. Even today I do love you, and at this late hour do continually knock; that you will open the door, that I may yet sup with you. Will you receive me for who I am, you who are called by my name? Must I continually be ashamed for the reproach you bring to my name? How could I have done more for you, than by spilling my own blood on your behalf? Listen to the words of warning which I gave to my people so long ago. Will I not still warn those that I love, that they be not destroyed?
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 1:11-20
Have not I, the Lord of hosts, been as a dog under your table? Do you not feed me sparingly, and sometimes forget? I draw near to you day-by-day, and receive little attention in return. Seek me out as your Lord, and regard me no longer as one lorded over. I am jealous for your attention. Why am I not the way in your life in all things, instead of an inconvenience in so many things?
When you have guests, or can give testimony of my name and saving grace, why do you hide me away, as if I have no part of you? Did I not give you a light to shine on your way? Why then have you hidden my light under a bushel, as if in shame? Did I not say that if you were ashamed of me and my words, that I would be ashamed of you?
Without even knowing it, you have purchased other “dogs” as well. They are idols; they share my place in your heart and lives, and this I will not allow. Search your hearts; seek me in prayer—by my might we will rid the temple of my Spirit of idols!
Will you not allow me to be your Lord? I have given you a gift beyond price, freely offered of my own love toward you—will you not share this priceless gift with those yet in need? You will meet many of them along your journey, and you are in possession of that priceless gift that will save them. It is a gift that you could not purchase; and a gift that you must seek to share.
Yes, you have loved me as a pet under your control. You know that you need me, but my ways are too inconvenient for you. Even as my enemies, you seek to change “times and laws” in regard to the service I require. Deny yourself, and take up your cross daily; that you may then follow me in truth, and not die. What are these broken cisterns you have made for yourself, which can hold no water? Can’t you see that I have promised you rivers of living water to drink from, if you would only believe on me? It is not enough that you claim to know me; the fruit of your life will give evidence of my presence, or not, every moment of every day. The sacrifice I require of you is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart I will not despise.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. II Corinthians 6:17,18
This message was initiated as I knelt in prayer before God, during the time I had previously mentioned. We have been going through a time of great need, which has matured us greatly in prayer. We have seen God moving and providing very notably, but the provision He has been granting is enough to be just barely able to sustain us, without an overabundance (Philippians 4:12). Though we are thankful for His many blessings, I was asking that we might receive more than what seem to be but scraps falling from our Lord’s table. This is when He prompted me by responding, “Like you give to me?”
How, then, did I know that this message was for the entire church, and not only for myself? I know this, because it is precisely what God has been teaching us over this past year. In a very real way, He first had to remove the “beams” from my eyes, so that then He could use me to aid in the removal of my brothers’ motes, which cloud their vision.
We were just the same as those spoken to in this prophecy. We did truly love Christ, and called ourselves by His name. We called Him our Lord; but it was evident by the fruit that this was not His role in our lives. He convicted us through Luke 16:10-12, revealing to us our unfaithfulness in stewardship with the “wealth” He had provided. We were comfortable, and lived in a way that pleased ourselves and others, but was abominable to God.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it:”—from Psalms 127:1. The “church” of these last days is truly Laodicean in character (Revelation 3:14-20); it has a form of godliness, but has denied His true power. Every single one of us has been affected, or infected, by this terminal spiritual disease. Yet Christ bore those agonizing stripes for our healing; He longs for us to be spiritually well, and eternally with Him.
The times which are shortly to come will be the worst that this world has ever known. Now is the time to be broken before our Lord, that His own Spirit may inhabit and sustain us unto life eternal. “It is nearly too late, my people. Separate yourselves unto me, and be saved.”
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10
WARNING: To avoid Satan’s snares and deceptions, return to the pure Word of God; which is the King James Bible. Revised translations are not small word alterations meant to bring clarity! Major doctrinal changes have occurred, which will tend to bring doubt and destroy your faith. To follow these new “versions” of the truth, is to build your spiritual house upon sand, and become as the ones reflected in Matthew 7:21-23. Please use this entire passage, Matthew 7:21-27.
Satan means to deceive you into sincerely following his alternate “truth.” You are really being set up to fall, and serve the antichrist.
Pray and seek God diligently in this matter; for time is short. See also our Word of God section and the section on A Sure Salvation vs. Eternal Security.