“In a
certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept
coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though
I don’t fear God or care about men, 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!’
And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God
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 will see that they get justice, and
quickly. However, when the Son of Man
comes, will he find faith on the earth?’” (Luke 18:2-8).
Webster’s Dictionary defines
persistence as “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or
trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people;
the state of occurring or existing beyond the usual, expected or normal time.”
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persistence). The widow in Luke 18 was persistent. Luke explains “Jesus told his disciples a
parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1) What I like most regarding
our Savior’s words, “will he find faith on the earth when he comes”.
If you desire anything in life, the
task at hand will require persistence.
The problem with our society is people expect an easy way out. With technology, buttons, fast-food,
drive-thru, purchasing online and immediate self-gratification, waiting has
become a chore, a challenge and one in which people will not adhere to do. Many can get frustrated in the grocery
check-out line. Huffing, puffing and
stamping their feet all the while glaring out the check person or one in front
causing the traffic jam. If we have to
wait to long in a restaurant, our waitress/waiter does not precisely fulfill
the order correctly, the tip, huh! Non existent! Our easily offended, delicate
sensibilities fail to recognize a new employee, first day on the job or a pressure
to perform correctly can cause these discrepancies in grocery stores or
restaurant gaffes.
Christians
are supposed to act and handle themselves differently than the world. Paul encourages the Philippians to conduct
themselves worthy of the gospel in whatever happens or we could say, in
whatever situation you are in (Philippians
1:27). I try to remind myself when I
am in the situation, usually with little eyes and ears around, this is a
perfect teaching and training moment for my children. Christians have the mark of the Holy Spirit,
a seal, a promise, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption
of those who are God’s possession (Ephesians
1:13-14). Now, the fruit of the
Spirit inside each one of us, this mark, this promise and deposit are: love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Having these character qualities
available to us when we accept Christ into our hearts as Savior and Lord over
our lives, why do we not see more Christian’s behaving or living lives worthy
of their calling? There are many reasons, different for each Christian, but
focusing on the persistent widow, some walk away from the faith because the
promised life, promised possessions or promised expectations were not the
person thought. For example, I came back
to the church after a post-partum depression.
It was an actual vision of Jesus Christ that saved my life from a dark
pit. There was no light, “universe”,
Allah, Buddha or “good, positive” feeling that saved my from such emptiness, it
was Christ alone. I knew in that moment
he was real, loves his people, the church and there is a life I can have other
than what the “world” tells me is there.
Coming back
in to the church from living in the “world” where ANYTHING goes with whatever
makes a person “feel good” must be ok, I had so much to learn. As a wife, I did not expect the Lord to touch
Tommy’s life seven years later with a dream.
I expected if God changed mine, then he would change Tommy’s life just
as quickly; not so. I have been asked,
what happened in the seven years of waiting for Tommy to desire the Lord, come
to church, worship and pray with our family? Persistence!
I have a
“do not quit”, determined, “I’m going to win” attitude. I would never quit on the Lord, my marriage
or my prayer life. When I read how
persistent this widow was, our Christ expects us to continue knocking, seeking
and asking, I was going to do just that (Matthew
7:7, Luke 11:9) This act of
persistence will require a few things such as submission to God’s will (Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42), for we are
no different than Christ. If the Savior
of this world called on the Father during prayer, his will be done, then how
much more should we be in prayer for our Father’s will, not our own.
Humility is
not a buzz word. Obedience and humility
go hand in hand and to be persistent, you will be humbled. “Humble yourselves
under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6). “Humble yourselves before
the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James
4:10). “If my people will humble, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will
I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). And one of my
favorite scriptures, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them
his way.” (Psalm 25:9).
The book
of James gives us a little insight into why persistence is so important to the
Lord, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish
its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:1-5). Peter encourages
believers to “make ever effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,
knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance;
to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness, love. For if you
possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you for being
ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Our faith needs to be purified and
refined. Our faith needs to be grounded
in the love for our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven. Our faith needs not be one of hidden agendas
or self ambitions, but one that glorifies something greater than our own small
lives. How else is the Lord going to reveal our true nature, how else are we to
learn what we truly can accomplish and how else are we to know the love of a
Father unless we go through trials, temptations and sufferings? If we profess
love for one another, but are unable to forgive, then what kind of love do we
have? If we loose all of our possessions
learning we have a selfish heart, bringing our reliance on our Father to
provide than monetary treasure, then was the suffering worth the pain? If a
painful experience enables us to stand in front of tens, hundreds or thousands,
repeating a testimony of heartache to love, would the painful experience be
worth the price to help others who may be in the same situation?
If rejection of man brings you
closer to the Lord from a broken heart, learning he has made and formed you in
to womb for this time and this season, will never leave you nor forsake you,
was the rejection worth going through? How else are we to truly know what is in
our hearts or more importantly, what we are capable of if we do not suffer some
sort of trial for just a little while?
Persistence for truth, persistence
for Jesus, persistence of peace, persistence of the demolishing of strongholds
and worldly desires kept me continuing drawing closer to the Lord. I knew he was there and I knew the life my
family could have if we humbled ourselves, sought his direction and my prayers
continued in believe in something I could not see, but knew was there (Hebrews 11:1). What is your faith made of? Is your relationship with the Lord strained
as you wait for a loved one to come to the Christ? Do you feel you have prayed long enough for
something? Have you asked the Lord if this is the right person for you? Have
you ever given the Lord a timeline and expected him to follow? Have you quit
many times over, but find yourself back in the Word searching for answers the
world can not provide?
We have a God who judges justly and
impartially. I trust him completely and
my prayer is you feel the same. I
encourage you to persist in your prayer life.
Do not give up on someone God has asked you to pray for. Do not quit when the goings get tough, but
use the situation to strengthen your character and faith. Come, let us reason together and CONFESS the
Word of the Living God;
Father,
Lord, I have given my life to you as a servant
of Jesus Christ. I desire to know you
with the wisdom and revelation given by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:17). I pray the
eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which
I was called (Ephesians 1:18). Give me the persistence as the widow in Luke 18. I know that persistence, perseverance must
finish its work so that I may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4).
I believe faith is being sure of what we hope
for and certain of what we do no see (Hebrews
11:1). I understand the sufferings
and trails I endure will only last but a little while; during this season,
increase my faith (1 Peter 1:6, Luke
17:5) Show me how to submit before your will and not my own (Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42). I desire truth in my inner being (Psalm 51:6), so bring forth any hidden
agenda, self ambition that is not of you.
While I wait for _______________, if it your will, increase my joy! Give me the self-control to study, grow in
the knowledge of you and have a peace that surpasses understanding (Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:7). I
know I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, so help me stay
on course and confident in the work in which you began will be carried out to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians
4:13, 1:6).
I pray for a humble spirit that will bow
before you where in due time you will lift me up in honor (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6). I know
you guide the humble in what is right and teach them your ways.” (Psalm 25:9). I desire to submit before
you and know your thoughts are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8). Help me to
rely solely on you. In the name of Jesus
of Nazareth I pray, Amen!
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