Luke
18:5 “Yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her
continual coming she weary me” (NKJV).
You
know, I had wondered about keeping on asking the Father about the healing for
some of my Deaf friends who had ongoing vision problems. Until I read this, I
realized Jesus was giving me an instruction. “But this woman is driving me
crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out
with her constant requests” (NLT)! Don’t you love this? Let’s read on.
Reading
from Luke 18:1-8, Jesus gave a parable that we ought always to pray, and not to
give up easily. The word “always” means at all times. Jesus told about a judge
and the widow who kept coming to him for help. The word “persistent” means
continuing and stubbornly determined. Another important word is “persevere”
which are often used as “persevere in prayer.” It means to keep at something in
spite of difficulties, opposition, or discouragement.
There
was the unjust judge. The judge had no fear of God. The idea is that the judge
took bribes and gave favors to person who held position and authority. There
was the poor widow who had no money to bribe the judge. The widow was all alone
with no money to get legal counsel to plead her case. The widow was persecuted,
being taken advantage of some adversary or enemy. The widow kept coming to the
judge and asked him to help her, to get rid of her adversary.
The judge ignored her. The judge did not move
to help her. The judge was silent. The Scripture quoted, He “would not for a
while,” but the poor widow kept on coming and coming, pleading and pleading.
She would not let the judge rest. Finally, he gave in to the widow and helped
her of her adversary.
Why
the judge gave in? Because of her “continual
coming.” The judge could not get rid of her. The judge said, “Even though I
don’t respect God or care about people, I will see that she gets her rights.
Otherwise she will continue to bother me until I am worn out” (NCV).
The
Lord said, “Listen to what the unfair judge said.” What Jesus meant was the unfair
judge holds a great lesson for believers. Hear, give attention and thought to
what He teaches. Then Jesus said, “Shall not God help his own people who cry to
Him, day and night?” Jesus used a story of the unjust judge to compare that God
is far better because He does listen to the cry and Jesus said, “I tell you,
God will help His people quickly” (Luke 18:8a NCV).
Luke
18:1 “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Jesus’ word was strong and
forceful in stressing the believer’s duty to persevere in prayer. The word
“ought” means it is absolutely necessary that we persevere in prayer. The word
“always” means at all times. The words “not to faint” mean not to lose heart,
or give up, give in to evil. To pray is to “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek
His face continually" (1 Chron.16:11).
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord for this word of encouragement that in spite of what was
happening around us, You stress strongly for us to keep on praying and to
believe that He does hear our cry and to keep on trusting Heavenly Father.
Thank You for the peace inside of us, knowing that You have a plan for us. In
Jesus’ name I pray, amen!
May
the Lord touch your heart that God does cares.
Dorothy: I felt impressed to look
into Manna on September 2013. I was so
surprised to see the whole month of different Manna on the subject of “Continue
or Continual.” That was five years ago counting to this month of September
2018. How time flies! God is still good.
God encourages me to be faithful to Him and to continue in Him. How rich is
that? For me, very rich that led me to remember this song.
Song: Constantly Abiding
Constantly
abiding, Jesus is mine:
Constantly
abiding, rapture divine;
He
never leaves me lonely, whispers, O so kind:
“I
will never leave thee” Jesus is mine.
(Anne S. Murphy, Sing His
Praise)
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