Luke 18:1-8 NLT
One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] "There was a judge in a certain city," He said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, [5] 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!'" [6] Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. [7] Even 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? [8] I 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?"
Does God ever say: "Stop pestering Me" when we continually pray about something?
Or, does He have to use His "faith detector" to see if we seriously believe He is willing and able to answer?
The widow in the parable knew that grumpy old unjust judge was able to give her justice if she could only get his attention by sheer annoying persistence - she determined in her desperation to keep on keeping on. Finally the breakthrough came.
Jesus promises that the Lord will be much more reliable to answer because He is fair and compassionate.
BUT...He adds this proviso:
Will He (Jesus) find any faith when He returns!
When we pray it seems the Lord has His "faith-detector" on.
Last week at the Remembrance Service people were robotically repeating "Lord graciously hear us" to the vicar's read prayers. I wonder what the Divine "faith-detector" would have monitored on His radar!
The same goes for my own prayers...have I given up on the hostages in Gaza, on praying for the salvation of my friends and family or even my country?
How much faith does Jesus find in my heart right now? Have I given up because it's taking a long, long time?
It's alright and understandable to pray to the Lord in desperation:
Psalm 13:1-4 NLT
O LORD, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? [2] How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? [3] Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. [4] Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!" Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.
There are times to pray just like that! Yet how often have any of us heard someone pray that honest heart prayer in a prayer meeting?
However, the intense plea of this Psalm ends with the heart of faith:
Psalm 13:5-6 NLT
But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. [6] I will sing to the LORD because He is good to me.
Can Jesus find that sort of faith in my heart and prayers today?
Hozzászólások