Settling for Less Than Scraps

The danger of a religion is that we become satisfied with relationships with each other, our programs and good sounding music, and lose our sense of need for relationship with God. We must cultivate this higher call, this constant understanding of our need for Him. I could almost see a meeting of the church, standing around talking to each other, doing church, never even aware of the fact that the Lord's presense wasn't there, and being satisfied with the meeting.


Lord, how can we meet in Your living room, and not miss Your presense? We have become a church that is empty of the Your life. We must have Your presense restored to us, or we will become satisfied with the lesser things. We will settle for dog food, or less when you have a banquet prepared for us. I am reminded of the interaction You had with the Caananite woman:


(NIV)Matthew 15:21-28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” [23] Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” [24] He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” [25] The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. [26] He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” [27] “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” [28] Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.


In Mark its slightly different:


(NIV)Mark 7:27-30
“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” [28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” [29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.


Lord, I think that we have learned to settle for less then scraps, but we could eat all that we wanted, for You have prepared a banquet for us. Help us to be hungry for You, and never rest until we are satisfied!