Always Pray, and Never Give Up
Mari Ikeda
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 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? 8 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?”
1. God will bring about justice (7-8a)
2. Why is this parable about “the unjust judge”? (2-6)
・We sometimes feel God is “the unjust judge”
・ Jesus still wants us to always keep praying
3. Persistent prayer = faith (1, 8b)
11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Summary
God does hear our cries for help in the midst of our sin and suffering. Though we may feel He would not answer soon, we have to be patient and keep trusting Him persistently. That is not an easy task, which Jesus also knows. That’s why He has given us the Holy Spirit.
For Discussion
1) What do these verses tell us to keep praying for and seeking? (It’s not necessarily our wish to come true.)
2) Have you had time when you were about to give up believing and praying? How would you do in such time?