Scripture
6Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7Even 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? 8I 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?” Luke 18:6-8
Observation
The last verse of chapter 18 ties directly into the last chapter when Jesus taught on the last days and His return. Jesus is not only giving us a lesson on persistent prayer, but He is giving us the path for a persistent faith. On that great and glorious day of His return will I be found as one who has faith or one who has forfeit his faith?
Application
I don’t like to wait. I don’t like to wait in line at the store, wait for my wife to get ready, wait for the document to download on my computer. Patience isn’t my strong suit. Yet, the truth is that the whole of the Christian life is about waiting on the Lord’s timing. He speaks to impatient saints like me when Peter writes about the delay in Christ’s return, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9. Well, how about that? I’m not waiting on Him, He’s waiting on me. Like the persistent widow in the parable He is asking me to contend in prayer for those who don’t yet know Him so they won’t enter into a Christless eternity. If I give up on them because it’s taking much longer then I would like then it’s not only they who will lose faith, but it’s me! Whoa! Perseverance in prayer is patience with a purpose. Now, it’s not an issue of too much time passing, but not having enough time to reach the hearts. When I see the injustice around me I can run to the One who is just, because unlike the wicked judge in the parable, God’s heart is for me. I don’t have to talk Him into loving the lost, He’s waiting for me to love them the way He does. Then, all of a sudden I realized that if I lose heart in prayer, if I quit contending for the faith of others, I myself, will become the unjust judge who is judging everyone around me and God Himself for taking so long to come back and take me home. If I’m not contending for others in prayer I’m condemning them as an unjust judge. We are all to familiar with unjust judges in leadership today. The last thing I want to be is the one judging everyone instead of praying for them when Jesus returns.
Prayer
How many will You find on the earth who have faith? I felt like You were asking me that question this morning right off the page. When You return I want you to find me, like the widow in the parable, with a passion that won’t stop pounding on the doors of people’s hearts to open up and meet You. If every soul was worth You dying for then certainly every soul is worth me praying for no matter how long it takes. Until that final day give me a faith that won’t quit even in the face of abject rejection, unjust rulers, and endless delays. Forgive me for judging others instead of praying for them. Help stay persistent in my prayers so I stay resilient in my faith.
Commenti