16th.: By How You Word It (Practicum)
What can we learn from the Syro-Phoenician woman's example. (see January 14th and 15th lessons)?
Jesus taught by using parables.
One of Jesus’ signature parables is the sower of the seed, which is found in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.
The parable goes something like, 'A sower went to sow seed, some of the seed fell by the way [road] side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.' Jesus’ interpretation of this portion of the parable is, “those by the way side are they that hear, then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe, and be saved.” (Luke 8:12).
We can follow the Syro-Phoenician woman's example, by playing along with this parable in our prayer.
For example, we can pray,
“Lord, even though the seeds fell along the hard ground of our friend’s heart, and the birds came and got most of the seeds, yet as some seeds will fall into cracks in the road, so let some of your word fall into the cracks in our friend’s heart.
Please take those seeds, which the birds did not see, and cause them to germinate into a faith that turns to you."
Likewise, we can pray using other parables as an example.
By caring for what the Lord wants, and being 'clever' about how to word our request,
we may be able to convince Him to chose our friends to be His followers.
“Through wisdom is a house built. And by understanding, it is established.” (Pr. 24:3)