Scripture Reading(s)
Luke 18:1-8
18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.
18:2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.
18:3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’
18:4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,
18:5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'”
18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
18:7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?
18:8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Reflections
Praying about a deep desire that’s on our hearts can sometimes be weary and burdensome when we a place a time restriction on it. When we pray about something that is incredibly important to us, we are always eager to have God answer us according to our time line.
When we have that viewpoint it communicates that perhaps there is a lack of belief in trusting that God is going to answer our prayers. That viewpoint cripples our faith and belief that God hears us and understands our pleas.
This parable communicates that it is okay to be persistent in our faith but to pray with faith. God hears and understands our desires. He knows that lifes struggles can begin to be to burdensome to bare. However not only does He provide the the answers but also the strength to be sustained during the waiting period.
He is not a God that is limited by time or human deadlines. He is able to work things out in a way that proves His timing and answers to be the most perfect.
And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
One may wonder if Jesus is referring to God as answering prayer because He is being bothered and that is a fair question. However, Jesus was making a contrast as He often does between man and God. If this wicked judge even answers the request out of agitation then how much quicker will the loving God answer the prayers of His children? Jesus says that “he will quickly grant justice to them“.
Jesus wants God’s children to pray to the Lord with confidence. He ends the parable with “will he (Son of man) find faith on earth?” We have no need to worry if God is going to lend us His ear and answer to our needs. God is listening and He is working all things out.
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