To say the least our emotional and spiritual status have been stretched to the limit over the course of the last month. Without going into great detail suffice it to say, we were almost to the point of just covering up and sleeping in. But God knew what we needed and the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit got us up, urging us to get ready and go despite what our head was telling us. Oh by the way, the prodding was in the form of a forgotten phone reminder to get up at 6 a.m. this morning and walk.
Today's message was a continuation of the series on Parables. Today's text, Luke 18:1-8, "The Persistent Widow" (NIV). Or as I've often referred to it, "God's Gift of Nag."
If you're not familiar with the story, it is told by Jesus to his followers to show them the importance of continuous persistent prayer. The New Living Translation records it this way:
2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Note the character of the Judge. He had no fear of God and didn't really care about people either. His motivation for the position was the money.
The widow had intestinal fortitude. Despite repeatedly having the Judge turn a deaf ear, she kept returning time and time again. Her persistence wore him out and he gave her the justice she was requesting.
"2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1, NIV)
While at the time of the trials its not very pleasant, but the end result is worth the journey. The development of perseverance! For as a follower of Christ persevering in the faith until Christ's return or our ascension is what we must be about.
Today's message reminded us of the Hope that we have in Christ Jesus. His gift freely given. It reminded me not to become so wrapped up in the now that I loose perspective of the big picture. And finally it reminded me that especially in times of failure and despair our interdependence upon Christ is paramount for perseverance to be properly developed.
Jesus' invitation to persistently pursue Christ's glory and justice is a must for me in the days ahead. I learned today that my life must be so intertwined and interdependent on Christ that, "I ooze Him."
