The Persistent Widow
(NIV) Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Don’t you love it when Jesus does not just tell His disciples a parable, but tells them the reason behind the parable? In this story, we are told the lesson is to always pray and not give up.
I learned persistence from an early age. My parents were older and my mother was deaf. She lived in fear that one of her children would get hurt and need her, but that she would be unable to hear their cries for help. So, she kept us close. In order for us to have the freedom to do anything outside of our house, I learned to allow myself two hours of begging, every day, in every situation. Generally, I suppose I wore my mother down and my sister, my brother and I would be allowed to leave.
The judge in the parable, unlike my mother, did not appear to have the purest of motives. In fact, we are told he had no regard for God or for people. It is only when he considered that this woman might turn on him that he relented. But then there is God, and Jesus reminds us that if this judge who is decidedly wicked will grant justice, then how much more will God answer the pleas of His children.
I have lived long enough that I have seen God answer some prayers, while seemingly turn a deaf ear to others.But I know, believe, and understand that when I pray in Jesus’ name, asking for things that will glorify God and coming in agreement with Jesus, that I will be like David in Psalm 27. Remember? In the midst of trouble, David states confidently that he will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
May we remain so close to our Lord and Savior that we know His heart and pray persistently and consistently for His will.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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