Never Give Up
Then Jesus told His disciples a parable [a story] to show them that they should always pray [constant prayer] and not give up [or lose heart until the answer comes]. He [Jesus] said: "In a certain town there was a [godless] judge who neither feared God nor cared about men [or women/people]. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him [repeatedly] with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he [the godless judge] refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men [or women/people], 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 coming [constant requests]!'" And the Lord [Jesus] said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God [God the Father] bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He [God the Father] will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes, will He find [persistent] faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 (NIV).
In this parable, Jesus teaches that like the persistent widow, we must pray to God the Father constantly, consistently and never give up. This parable of Jesus illustrates our need for constant prayer to God and to keep praying until God answers our prayer. Jesus used this parable to instruct us all too always pray, cry out to God and never lose hope. Jesus promises that God will help us and provide our needs through our persistent prayers of faith. God will provide our needs when we cry to Him in faith day and night. Most important, God will not be slow to answer our cry for help. Jesus promises that God helps His people and answers our prayers of faith. So, do not to lose heart and give up. Instead, let us all be like the persistent widow in prayer and faith and cry out to God for our help!
Amazingly, Jesus Christ constantly prayed to God the Father. Jesus prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21), before calling the Twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12), at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28), for Peter before his denial Luke (22:32), His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) and for His enemies (Luke 23:34). Most important, Jesus also taught us to pray (Luke 11:1-4) and told parables (or stories) about the importance for persistent prayer (Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1-8). Jesus’ constant prayers to God the Father revealed His intimate relationship, communion and faithfulness to God the Father. Jesus lived in total dependence, trust and faith in God even as He uttered His last words, “Father, I entrust My spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46).
Even more, King David (in Jesus family line) also constantly prayed to God. The Book of Psalms have many prayers of King David in his time of need. Like Jesus, David and the persistent widow, go to God constantly in prayer!
Then Jesus told His disciples a parable [a story] to show them that they should always pray [constant prayer] and not give up [or lose heart until the answer comes]. He [Jesus] said: "In a certain town there was a [godless] judge who neither feared God nor cared about men [or women/people]. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him [repeatedly] with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he [the godless judge] refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men [or women/people], 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 coming [constant requests]!'" And the Lord [Jesus] said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God [God the Father] bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He [God the Father] will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes, will He find [persistent] faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 (NIV).
In this parable, Jesus teaches that like the persistent widow, we must pray to God the Father constantly, consistently and never give up. This parable of Jesus illustrates our need for constant prayer to God and to keep praying until God answers our prayer. Jesus used this parable to instruct us all too always pray, cry out to God and never lose hope. Jesus promises that God will help us and provide our needs through our persistent prayers of faith. God will provide our needs when we cry to Him in faith day and night. Most important, God will not be slow to answer our cry for help. Jesus promises that God helps His people and answers our prayers of faith. So, do not to lose heart and give up. Instead, let us all be like the persistent widow in prayer and faith and cry out to God for our help!
Amazingly, Jesus Christ constantly prayed to God the Father. Jesus prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21), before calling the Twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12), at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28), for Peter before his denial Luke (22:32), His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) and for His enemies (Luke 23:34). Most important, Jesus also taught us to pray (Luke 11:1-4) and told parables (or stories) about the importance for persistent prayer (Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1-8). Jesus’ constant prayers to God the Father revealed His intimate relationship, communion and faithfulness to God the Father. Jesus lived in total dependence, trust and faith in God even as He uttered His last words, “Father, I entrust My spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46).
Even more, King David (in Jesus family line) also constantly prayed to God. The Book of Psalms have many prayers of King David in his time of need. Like Jesus, David and the persistent widow, go to God constantly in prayer!
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