Jesus Story Teller - Part 1

Intro:
Some people worry ... other people pray.
One finds darkness ... the other a ray.

Just made that up! Now If I would only apply it. :) There are some that pray a lot. Their lives are marked by a dependence on God in prayer. Others worry and work harder. I wonder if we prayed harder and worked less what we'd find?

"I can hardly believe her disease is ordinary, for her life is bitter to her; she sleeps none, but cries as a woman travaling in birth ... and I am at present exercised with the wrestlings of God. Remember our estate to the Lord. It becomes us to knock, and to lie at the Lord's door, until we die knocking. If He will not open, it is more than He has said in His word. But He is faithful. Welcome, welcome cross of Christ, if Christ be with it."

Samuel Rutherford, 1630, on the suffering of his wife, age 30.

Read:
Luke 18:1-8

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 about men. 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 about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her (continual) coming!' "

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?"

Think:
Jesus was a master story teller. He would often tell a story to help drive a point home. For today, it is pretty safe that Jesus wants us to know that we should always pray and not give up. Got to love a parable where the main idea is laid out for you! We dumb sheep need it simple!

What can we learn from this widow about prayer?
1. She was confident (v. 3)
Her request is a command! She is telling the judge to listen and act on her behalf. This is not a weak request by a feeble, frail, old widow. This is the confident prayer of a woman in need.

We are to also come before God with boldness ... make our requests known to Him. Try to influence the outcome. Some things are locked in God's will and unchangeable. Other things God allows us to influence. We should be bold on those things.

2. She was consistent (v. 3, 4, 5, 7)
She kept coming to the judge ... continually ... over time ... day and night! She was undeterred in her quest for justice. Maybe someone was trying to take her children for a bad debt left by her husband. Maybe someone was taking over her land or inheritance. Regardless, she was not going to be denied justice.

We are to also come before God continually. We are to bring our requests to Him day and night. We are not to let up in our desire to hear from the Lord. It becomes us to knock, and to lie at the Lord's door, until we die knocking.

Do:
Our God is not an unjust judge. He is an awesome Father that wants the best for us. He desires that we pray and not give up. He desires that we live like the widow in this parable. We are invited to be confident and consistent in prayer.

Do you do this much, Christian? Are you confident before God in prayer? Do you come knowing that He cares about you and wants to hear you? Do you come knowing that He is waiting to answer certain things but wants you to pray about them FIRST? If you pray first and then He answers there is less likelihood that you will miss His hand in the mix.

Make it your pledge to pray and not give up. Will you do this now? Go knock at His door. A just Father is waiting!

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.