Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 3-4; 1 John 3: Nahum 2; Luke 18
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” -Luke 18:1-8
Do you ever get weary of bringing the same petition to God? Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. It can be hard to keep at it when it seems nothing is changing. And this particular prayer of mine is all about changing something. Jesus states here that God will not delay long and will bring justice quickly-and yet here I sit dealing with this thing and nothing has changed. Yet. I am reminded of Abraham, of how long he had to wait for God’s promise. And then I am reminded of what Peter wrote in his second letter:
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Once again I am brought face to face with a God who is infinite, a God who is beyond time, and here I sit in my little space on the timeline, a mere dot throughout history. A miniscule player in the stream of events-and there is God with no beginning and no end-the Lord over it all. There is God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There is God who knows the beginning from the end. There is God who is patient with me. There is God who is faithful and true and trustworthy. There is a God who hears me. And I am reminded not to lose heart and to keep on asking; and all will be done in His time.
Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” -Luke 18:1-8
Do you ever get weary of bringing the same petition to God? Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. It can be hard to keep at it when it seems nothing is changing. And this particular prayer of mine is all about changing something. Jesus states here that God will not delay long and will bring justice quickly-and yet here I sit dealing with this thing and nothing has changed. Yet. I am reminded of Abraham, of how long he had to wait for God’s promise. And then I am reminded of what Peter wrote in his second letter:
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Once again I am brought face to face with a God who is infinite, a God who is beyond time, and here I sit in my little space on the timeline, a mere dot throughout history. A miniscule player in the stream of events-and there is God with no beginning and no end-the Lord over it all. There is God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There is God who knows the beginning from the end. There is God who is patient with me. There is God who is faithful and true and trustworthy. There is a God who hears me. And I am reminded not to lose heart and to keep on asking; and all will be done in His time.
Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
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