L U K E  18  v 1-8

The  Gospel reading for Sunday services, comes from the parable of the persistent widow. Jesus takes the parable to tell His disciples the effect, that they should always pray and not lose heart, but to be persistent as the widow was.   The widow represents the poor, needy and the oppressed, and persistence is the only way of obtaining justice.

Jesus explained the parable Himself, and stated  we should pray without fainting. These words are connected with the doctrine of his second coming, which is the subject hidden in the rest of the Chapter, and in the following chapter,  These long intervals between the first and second comings, which Jesus is telling His disciples to keep up.

The verses tell us the importance of perseverance in prayer.  To convey this, Jesus takes a fearless widow, who obtained justice from a wicked magistrate by sheer importunity.  Though I fear not God nor man, said the magistrate, yet because this woman troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by which continual coming. she wearies me.

Jesus applied the meaning of the parable. If causing so much persistence to a  man, how much more for the children of God from a righteous Judge. Their Father in heaven.

Prayer is described as the life blood of Christianity, and is evidence of conversion. Whatever is the subject, prayer is for our soul’s health.  It is more easier to begin to pray than it is to  keep up.  To go on praying is faith. People are apt to get weary and so give way to those who say prayer is of no use. Then it is time to read this parable.  We must recollect, that the Lord told us to pray and not faint.

Intercessions in services is easy for some, but some are hard to listen to as people will try to mention every social organization in existence and all emergency units.  Others are a joy to listen to.  I had a young woman who was the finest one I heard over the years. Concise, easy to hear, yet fully completed within a few minutes .Praying must not be rushed, but prayed steadily whatever is being prayed.

These verses secondly, tell that God has elect people on earth who are under His special care.  Election is a truth, which should call forth praise and thanksgiving from all Christians.  Except God chose them, and called them. They would never call God, who chose some from His goodness without any goodness from them.  The world may scoff at the doctrine of election, but believers who know their own  heart, will ever bless God for election, without which there would be no salvation.

Election is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby before the foundations of the world were laid. He declared to deliver from condemnation, those He chose in Christ .

Let us look at the marks of election. They are laid down in Scripture.  Inseparable from Christ, with faith and conformity to Him.  It was Paul who said, the working faith and patient hope and laboring of the Thessalonians, that he knew their election.

God’s people are essentially praying people.  No doubt these are the persons whose prayers are formal and hypo-scriptural, but a prayerless man must never be called a man of God.

Lastly, these verses teach us that true faith will be found very scarce at the end of the world. The Lord Jesus revealed this by asking a solemn question.  When the Son of Man comes, shall He find daith on the earth?   The question shows the uselessness of expecting all the world would be consulted before He comes again.

It show the foolishness of saying all are good, and that differing in outward matters are all right at heart and a joy to hear.

Where is the use after all of ignoring facts under our own eyes- facts in the world-facts in churches; where is faith to be seen?  How many read what  the Bible states?

How many live as if they believe that Christ died for them, and there is judgement in heaven, and there is a hell.  These are sinful and serious questions which demand an answer. If we have faith ourselves? If we have, let us bless God for it.  It is a great things to believe all the Bible, it is matter for daily thankfulness if we feel our sins and trust in Jesus  We may be frail and weak and erring.  But do we believe, that’s the question.  If we believe we shall be saved,  But he that believeth not, shall not have life and shall die in sin 

Praise God for His Holy Gospel