Additional Reading: Colossians 1:1-12
Luke 18 begins with Jesus telling a story of a persistent widow who gains justice for herself by her consistent asking of a judge for justice. There are several important things to note about this story.
1) The widow had a just and simple request. The judge is initially unjust; he refuses to give her the justice she deserves. (vs. 5)
2) The widow did not use many words (vs. 3), but she was consistent (vs. 5). See Matthew 6:7 for Jesus' instructions on how to pray succinctly. God is looking for consistent prayer not correct verbage or great verbosity.
3) God will not delay long (vs. 7). We can expect God to move on the behalf of those who cry out to him. While we must acknowledge his time is often different than ours and there may even be good reasons (unknown to us) why he delays, this should in no way discourage us from continuing to ask. In fact to do so, would be to disobey what Jesus is exhorting us to do!
4) The primary point of this story is discovered by Jesus' concluding question. "When I return will I find faith on the earth?" (vs. 8) Consistent prayer reveals a heart that has faith in the goodness of God and trusts God to be faithful to his word. Lack of prayer reveals a person who does not see a need for God and therefore lacks faith.
The point of this story is further illustrated by the following three accounts in Luke 18.
First, Jesus tells another parable of man who was confident in his own righteousness and a man who understands his sinful condition. The first man is not seeking justice from God (as the widow did) instead he is seeking recognition. The latter man cries out to God out of heart that knows that knows God must justify him because he is a sinner. (Luke 18:9-14)
Second, Jesus uses children and infants to illustrate how one must enter the kingdom with complete trust in God despite their inability to understand God's plan fully. We may not understand why God has not yet responded to our prayers, but our consistency in continuing to come to him in prayer reveals we have faith to trust him even when we don't understand. Those who have that faith enter the kingdom! (Luke 18:15-17)
Finally, Jesus' interaction with a rich young ruler reveals a great hindrance that keeps us from faith. Wealth or simply the treasures of this world that we are unwilling to give up to follow Jesus rob us of our faith. Nothing is worth more than Jesus. While God does not always call us to sell everything, he does call us to have nothing we value more in our lives than him. (Luke 18:18-25)
If the call of Jesus seems impossible for you to achieve, you are near to the kingdom. For it is when you realize that with "man it is impossible" that you come like the broken tax collector and the little infant who cries for his mother's milk- you are coming to a place where you are willing to cry out to God for help. It is only "possible" through him. That is why we pray.
"We always thank God... when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus. Of this... gospel you have heard before... as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing." (Colossians 1:3-6)
4 comments:
1.What about the prayers that go unanswered...the many...this does affect your faith. We are still human and need some answers. the many prayers that went unanswered and the travesty took place instead hinders further prayer.
2.We are created in God's image and his likeness. It is not in our nature (as he intended) to accept everything blindly. We already went through that stage called childhood. We have the ability to reason and understand. There is a time when you know it is time to move on.
1 Corn 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
To tell someone to jsut continue to ask for things over and over and over and over even if its unfruitful is romantic and unrealistic. We need something that works. Something that will give us a hint that he will either answer it or he wont. So that we dont waste time on nothing. Or so that we spend more time on something that will be answered.
We are people that are easily conditioned and after so many prayers going unanswered the faith dissipates.
"If the call of Jesus seems impossible for you to achieve, you are near to the kingdom. For it is when you realize that with 'man it is impossible' ..."
This is very heartening. How precious is surrender!
Dear Anonymous,
May I simply point you to the many prayers that have been answered - many in my own experience. While there are indeed some that I questions have not or have yet to be answered, I am reminded of Abraham who waited in faith until his old age to see the promise of God answered.
Perhaps, we may be praying for things that are outside of God's will. If so, we should look to his word to see what his will is. Or, trust that unanswered prayer is a part of his plan to bring about good in our lives.
This is the challenge of faith I am talking about.
When you are refering to Abraham you are refering to a promise that was given that Abraham did not ask for. God spoke to him and said he would make him a father of many. That is not the same thing as petitioning God over a matter.
What I am saying is, there must be something from God that allows us to know when we should move on from praying for or about something that He has said no to.
Otherwise you have a group of people that are consistanly frustrated at God. Ever wonder why so many Christians walk around with frowns on their face? They are frustrated, frustrated because churchs and men of God sell them a bill of goods that are not realistic. Teaching a lifestyle or way of life that is unattainable.
There has to be more of a purpose.
When Peter enquired of his own demise when Jesus spoke of John, The Lord was not evasive in his response to the unfortune end of Peter's life.
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