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THE PERSISTENT WIDOW
He said, “In a
certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had
respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept
coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my
opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself,
‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet
because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice,
so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” And
the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will
not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and
night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will
quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man
comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Jesus used this parable to teach his
disciples about praying and not giving up, even when the prayer
doesn’t seem to get an answer.
A widow went before a judge and begged him
to grant her justice against her adversaries. The judge rudely
said, “No!” and sent her away. I think the judge was heartless.
She went home that day, but time and again she returned to make
the same request for justice. Each time the judge shook his fist
at her, said “No,” and threw her out of his presence. Finally,
she went before the judge one last time. He was so tired of the
widow’s constant pleading that he decided to give her what she
asked for just so she would leave him alone.
God wants us to pray at all times. Keep
praying even when you don’t get the answer you want as fast as
you would like. Think about the widow and the mean judge. She
kept pleading her case over and over, and eventually this
heartless man gave in to her petitions. If someone like this
unfair judge will eventually listen, won’t God who loves us
listen to his children when they call out to him? God will hear
the prayers of his people.
Please read Isaiah 40:31: “Those who hope
in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be faint.”
Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving
us the Lord’s Prayer and teaching us to pray constantly. Amen
Twila Black
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