Persistent in Prayer

 N.T.#616  "Persistent in Prayer"

August 20, 2025 

Luke 18 

 ...men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (verse 1b)

LET IT GLOW

At the beginning of this chapter, we find Jesus giving two parables involving prayer. He is teaching His followers to pray with persistence (verses 1-8) and pray with humility (verses 9-17). 

The first parable involves a helpless, friendless, and destitute widow. She kept coming before a lawless, bad, and unprincipled judge with no moral fortitude to what was right. She wanted the judge to avenge her adversary. 

Avenge in verses 3 and 5, mean retaliate; punish.

However, this judge would not rule in the woman's favor or protect her from her opponent's attempt to defraud her. Unscrupulous people trumped up debts against a widow in order to place a lien against her property. She had no husband or children to produce an income. Yet, she was persistent and wore him out by repeatedly going to the judge. 

The result was the judge, an unbeliever, avenged the widow because: lest by her continual coming she weary me. (verse 5b)

LET IT GROW

Look what the unbelieving judge said: And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (verse 8)

How persistent are we in pray for our loved ones to be saved? Or that we find God's will for our life?

If the unrighteous judge will dispense justice in response to the desperate woman's persistent petitioning, how much more can we count on God, who is perfectly righteous, to do what is right on behalf of "His elect"?  (Swindoll)

This parable is also about justice. God does what is right and just. It is not depending upon whether we deserve it or not. 

Do we persistently pray for justice on the earth? When Jesus returns, there will be justice.

LET IT GO

Help us be faithful to pray for our leaders of our nation, our church, and our family.

To You be the glory.