Luke 18:1-8 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show
that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain
city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that
city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my
enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I
don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m
going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her
constant requests!’”
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even
he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give
justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep
putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when
the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
When we tie today’s parable in with the Parable of the Midnight
Caller we can learn a few lessons.
1. Persistence pays:
The unjust judge gave justice to the widow because of her persistence. She kept asking because she knew her cause
was just. Jesus told the disciples that
God who is not reluctant to answer will answer when we call on him day and
night. Again this is not begging or
manipulating it is coming before our loving Heavenly Father and laying our
needs at his feet.
When I pray I often quote Scripture. I quote the promises that apply to my prayer
focus. I quote them to remind myself and
build up my faith so I will be persistent until the answer comes.
2. Our prayers don’t
bother God: God doesn't say, “Don’t
bother me…” On the contrary Psalm 121:3-8 tells us: He will not let you
stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The
Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective
shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches
over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
3. God’s nature is
love: Unlike the judge in Luke 18, God has no evil in his nature. He desires the best for his children. He wants to answer our prayers. Luke 12:32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock.
For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 18:7b-8 “So don’t you think God will
surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will
he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!
But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have
faith?”
4. God wants his will
to be done on earth. When Jesus
taught his disciples to pray he taught them to pray for God’s will to be done
on earth. Matthew 6:10 “May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on
earth, as it is in heaven.”
In conclusion: If God wants his will to be done on earth and
his nature is love, why wouldn't we persist in prayer until we receive the answer?
All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.
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