August 1

Crumbs from the Master’s Table

“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” — Matt 15:27 BSB

Both the humility and the quick, eager faith of this woman shine through in her response. She wasn’t offended by the way our Lord spoke to her. She was willing to be like a little dog under the Master’s table. The children were served first, but the crumbs that fell from the table belonged to the dogs. Even the crumbs from that table were enough for her—far better than the finest delicacies from any other table.

In this, she shows both humility and faith, setting an example for us. We should come to Christ with a deep sense of our unworthiness, ready to take the lowest place. It should be enough for us to gather even the crumbs from the Master’s table, and we should take great joy in this privilege. Even the smallest portion of His grace and love is more precious than the richest pleasures of this world.

“Not worthy, Lord, to gather up the crumbs
With trembling hand that from Thy table fall,
A weary, heavy-laden sinner comes
To plead Thy promise and obey Thy call.

“I am not worthy to be thought Thy child,
Nor sit the last and lowest at Thy board;
Too long a wanderer, and too oft beguiled,
I only ask one reconciling word.”

But we aren’t just fed with crumbs; we are invited to the full table, with all the richest blessings spread before us. The prodigal son, when he returned, only asked to be a servant, feeling unworthy to be restored as a son. But a father’s love knows no half measures. The finest robe, the ring, and the shoes were given to him, marking his full restoration as a son. In the same way, God takes the lowliest and most unworthy of us and places us at once in the place of children, feeding us abundantly.