PERSISTENT PRAYER. Luke 18:1-8 The first eight verses of this chapter connect with the last verses of the previous chapter regarding the coming of the Lord. Jesus had been teaching His followers, who were new to the kingdom of God, about the troubles that would come in “the last days.” What should we do when “evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”? The most powerful resource available to us at all times and in every situation is prayer. It’s easy to lose courage and faith when we look around at the world’s people and events. People and governments often resist submitting to God’s laws, which have been proven to be just and effective. Jesus told the parable of the unfair judge to show us that we should not be overwhelmed by what’s happening in the world today. Instead, with faith and courage, we should continue to pray and trust God—even if we don’t see an immediate answer.
The point Jesus made in this story is that if an unfeeling judge will respond to the persistent prayers of a widow, then how much more will our Compassionate God answer the prayers of those who love and trust Him. The unjust judge didn’t fear God or people, unlike God, who loves and cares for everyone regardless of who they are or their circumstances. God always does what is right, and what might seem like a delay to us is actually following His sovereign will and timetable. He knows the future and has good reasons for answering our prayers in His own time and in His own way.
There are times when we articulate our prayers in words to our Gracious Father and spend time in that conversation focused on “supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks” for all people. Other times, our communication with God becomes part of our daily routine as we go about our work and activities. By living as those who “ought always to pray and not to faint,” we commit ourselves to maintaining a conscious awareness of “God with us” and listening to us, as well as responding to our requests in a proper way and at the right time. Our entire life must be lived consistently with our prayers, or else our prayers are merely a form rather than genuine fellowship with God.
We are not heard because of our “much speaking,” but persistence in prayer helps us grow in faith, hope, and character as we become more aware of God’s grace, mercy, and wisdom toward us in personal ways as well as through daily events. Through sincere prayer, we become more consistent in our daily lives, and our words are not just talk but are thoughts verbally expressed from the heart. Our Just Judge understands what we mean, even when our words fail to fully express our feelings. The unjust judge in the parable that the Lord Jesus told went against his own nature to do what was right. His own corrupt character yielded to the persistent demands of a widow seeking justice.
We don’t need to fight for our rights; instead, we can present our case to our Lord and leave it there. How different is our “prayer hearing and prayer answering God,” who always does justice! He delights in meeting the needs of those who trust in Him. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about several widows who were either known by the Lord or spoken of by Him. Anna was a widow for many years and was blessed when she saw the infant Jesus. The widow of Zarephath was a foreigner blessed by God when He provided food for her and her son because she cared for Elijah. God’s miraculous provision was given because the widow gave what she had for the prophet. The widow of Nain, whose son had died, was blessed by an unasked-for act of grace when the Lord raised him from the dead. The widow in this parable reminds us that God knows our hearts when we pray in a manner consistent with His character and will. The widow who gave her last two mites is an example of someone who loves God and wishes to express her devotion to Him.
An additional point in the parable is that we should not stop praying in faith. “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Persevering faith will be shown in the prayers and loyalty of those who have experienced and value God's grace. Jesus was speaking of a time of widespread trouble when He returns. Spiritual decline and opposition to God and His people are expected. Those who remain faithful to God and committed to prayer will find the strength to persevere through difficult times.
Many who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ during the tribulation will find that the cost of faith in God is high. The people of Israel will have a relatively short time to suffer until their Messiah returns to reign. The fact that they will receive what God promised should strengthen their faith. Those who refuse the Lord Jesus Christ and do not accept Him by faith will not receive Him. We need to keep praying persistently, even though the Father is still waiting for others to be saved by faith in this day of grace before the word is given for Christ to return for His own. “He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”
VALUES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.