The Persistent Widow

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Luke 18:1-8 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 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!’”
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 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? 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?” (NLT)

What do you

from the Lord today that only He can do?

1. The

: Faith that perseveres

Faith perseveres despite

.

Galatians 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (NLT)

Faith is more than hope; it is

.

James 2:14-17 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. (NLT)

Faith

discouragement.

Matthew 7:7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (NLT)

Is there a prayer you’ve been

for God to answer;
have you stopped?

2. The Judge: A picture of

injustice

Human justice is flawed.

If persistence can move an indifferent, unjust person,
how much more will it move a

and

Reveal Answer

God?

3. God: The

Judge

Matthew 7:11 “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (NLT)

Trust in God’s perfect

.

Trust that God hears your

.

Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. (NLT)

4. Embrace Faith that doesn’t

Reveal Answer

!

“…But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Persistent faith is the

.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. (NLT)

Let’s be people who pray with persistent faith, who keep coming to God no matter what, and who trust that His justice will come in His perfect time. Keep believing, keep praying, and never give up—because our God is a God who answers.

My Prayer today: