“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
(Luke 18:1)
Our chief goal in this life is to become like Jesus (Ephesians 4:11-13). Though God will one day complete the process suddenly and supernaturally at the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-2), we are called to make progress toward this lofty goal as we traffic through this life. “Exercise yourself toward godliness,” instructed the great apostle Paul (1 Timothy 4:7), and “work our your own salvation with fear and trembling,” never forgetting that “it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 3:12-13). Becoming more like Christ in this life requires that we read about His earthly ministry in the Gospels and then ask God to help us walk as He did (1 John 2:6). One of the things that typified our Lord’s pilgrimage on this earth was His steadfast commitment to prayer. Our Lord prayed (mysteriously) when He entered the world (Hebrews 10:5-7). We see Him praying as He began His public ministry at baptism (Luke 3:21). He routinely prayed before sunrise (Mark 1:35), and often withdrew into the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16). He sometimes spent all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). We see Him giving thanks to the Father (Luke 10:21), and praying that the Father would be glorified (John 12:28). This amazing prayer prompted an audible response! Christ’s High Priestly Prayer (John 17) reveals the Lord’s heart towards His people and His Gethsemane prayer powerfully reveals His heart towards His Father (Luke 22). At end of His life, our Lord prayed Himself into His Father’s hands (Luke 23:46). Even now Christ prays for us, making intercession on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). Today’s verse passage reminds us that our God cares deeply about our spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. Prayer is His prescription and preventative measure against becoming disheartened and discouraged. In His parable, the Lord introduced two interesting characters, an unjust judge who cared nothing about God or man, and a widow who was not only contending with the normal challenges of widowhood, but was contending with the additional threat of an adversary bent on making her a victim. She petitioned the judge for help but at first he ignored her. She was persistent, however, and eventually “wore him down” to the point where he granted the request. If the judge who was distant, unconcerned, and unconnected to the woman granted her request we may be sure that God, Who genuinely cares for us, will grant ours (1 Peter 5:7; Luke 18:7). “Nevertheless,” added Jesus, “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). That is up to us. May the Lord help us to display unwavering, active trust in our God, even in the last of days.
God bless you,
Pastor John
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