Tag: Luke 18:1-8

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tell the parable of the persistent widow. She is a poor, powerless widow up against a corrupt, powerful judge and she is seeking justice. While the Bible is clear on its teaching that those in power and leadership roles are to work justly and stand up for the week and the poor, we all know that not all in power and leadership are just. However, this is not Jesus’ point in this parable. Instead, there are three things we can learn from the persistent widow in this parable 1) persistence doesn’t give up; 2) persistence will keep the faith; 3) persistence understands that justice in a corrupt world can only come from God. 

Persistence doesn’t give up. 

How many times to we pray and pray for something and then give up? Do you ever think about when you get to heaven and ask God, “Why didn’t you answer this prayer?” and His reply will be “You were only one prayer away, but you gave up.” This parable of a nagging, persistent widow is a reminder to us to not give up.

Chapter 18 opens with an explanation of why Jesus is telling this parable. Verse 1 says: “He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing.”  In Isaiah 43:19, God says through the prophet, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” From cover to cover, the Bible is clear that we need to be persistent in prayer.

Jesus uses an odd representation in this parable. The poor, widowed woman represent those listening to Jesus tell the story (or reading it from the Bible) – in other words, she represents us. The person to whom she is nagging and insisting on justice is a corrupt judge, which Jesus is using to represent God. This doesn’t mean that Jesus was saying God is corrupt. The point he was making is that if the nagging woman’s persistence paid off with a corrupt judge who is limited by the power he holds on earth within his office, then how much more will it pay off with a just God with eternally, infinitely powerful?

Why should we not give up? Because you may be just one prayer away from an answered prayer. Keep praying. Don’t give up. Pray without ceasing. Pray always and do not become discouraged.

Persistence will keep the Faith.

Jesus knew that living for Him in a fallen, corrupt world would not be easy and through this parable he wanted to encourage us to keep our faith, even when the odds are stacked up against us. By using a juxtaposition of a corrupt judge with a just God, Jesus implies that even in the midst of a corrupt, fallen, broken world, God’s will will be done.

Perhaps the judge had no plans to give the woman justice, but God is a God who defends the widows (Psalm 68:5) and so even though the judge has no concern for her need and no plans to do the right thing, he will give in simply to get the woman to stop nagging him and in the end he will do the right thing because God wills it.

We can find similar teaching in the Bible in verses such as John 19:11, Romans 13:1, and 1 Peter 2:13 where it is clear that those in government positions are placed there by God and they do what He wills, whether they acknowledge it or not. We can keep the faith, even in a corrupt, broken world that justice will be done because ultimately, God is in control. Yet we also have a responsibility as citizens to pray for our government leaders – and to not give up praying.

Persistence understands that justice in a corrupt world can only come from God. 

There is an old commercial from many years ago that was used for eating healthy and as we moved into the computer age, it manifested itself again. The point of the commercial was “garbage in, garbage out.” In a world full of corruption, why do we expect any outcome except corruption? Corrupt people do corrupt things. The only way that justice occurs in a corrupt world is through the hand and work of God. This is why we must not give up praying and why we must keep the faith.

Just as God can bring miraculous healing to those with COVID19, so He can bring miraculous justice in the world as the people of God pray without ceasing. In the parable, Jesus does not ever say that God intervened but he does imply as he closes out the parable that God is an unseen actor in the story. In verses 7-8 he says: “Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?”

Will Jesus find faith on earth?

Do we have faith that God will grant justice to us? Do we believe that He is acting on our behalf, even if we can’t see his hands at work in our lives? Will he find the kind of faith that is persistent, unrelenting, and doesn’t give up?

God, thank you that you hear our prayers. Help us to be persistent and to keep the faith. Help us to trust in You as You are working behind the scenes in ways we never know to bring about your perfect plan.

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

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Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

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Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

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This week’s new Christian Tees designs:

The tassel was worth the hassle

This week, we are celebrating the accomplishments of the class of 2021. If you have a high school, college, or university graduate this year, our “Tassel was worth the Hassle” shirts and products make a great gift. View the samples below and other products in this design in our Spreadshop store. Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!

See our other graduation tees and products:

Graduating Seniors, Class of 2021 and #Done2021

Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!

See our other graduation tees and products:

Graduating Seniors and Class of 2021

Once in the store, you can click on the customize tab and add your school name or graduate’s name!

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

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You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

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God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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