City Life Starter

Written by Nathan Warren

Scripture

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:1-8

Reflection

There were none more vulnerable in first-century society than widows. With no man to speak on her behalf, no property rights or physical security, this widow puts to use all she has left – her voice. Before long, she is known in her community not only as “that poor widow,” but “that noisy, relentless widow.” In a culture built on honor and restraint, she spends the last shred of her social dignity for a chance at justice.

And yet her desperation becomes the vehicle for a stunning contrast: if even a corrupt, indifferent magistrate yields to the cries of the powerless, how much more will the righteous God hear the cries of his chosen ones? If a widow’s relentless petitions can extract justice from a man who neither fears God nor respects people, how much more will the Father, who has adopted us as heirs, bring justice swiftly?

Luke weaves this “how much more” refrain throughout his Gospel:

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Luke 11:13

Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

In each case, Jesus invites his listeners to move from fragile analogies to confident faith. If flawed fathers, fleeting birds, and perishable grass are sustained, how much more will God sustain His people?

The widow is to be imitated in her directed persistence. She went to the one she knew could deliver her and she never let up. However, her persistence comes from desperation, not trust. In contrast, our prayers should be full of confident hope and thanksgiving that God, who has adopted us into His royal family as co-heirs with Jesus, has already set in motion the plan that will be our deliverance. How could we lose heart, given this reality?

Jesus ends the passage by rhetorically asking if there will be faith on the earth when He returns. This question should provoke us to be constantly formed into that remnant who persistently and confidently cries out to our loving Father until Jesus returns! Let us plead for righteousness to reign, for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven!

Application

If it seems that your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, then take heart, for God is below the ceiling!
-Dallas Willard

Here are some self-examining questions to discern the degree of faith in your prayers:

• Have you come to terms with your identity as a Child of God – one who can confidently approach the Father?
• Do you make God a regular part of your life? How much of your time is spent in prayer? Do you acknowledge His presence and guidance with you as you go about your activities? Do you spend focused periods of time listening and petitioning?
• Do your prayers include the expression of gratitude to God? (Ps 50:14-15)
• In light of this passage, what does faith in prayer look like to you?

Prayer

Father, teach me to persistently pray with joyful, confident hope! Remind me that I am Your beloved child, and that You will swiftly set everything right, according to Your Word. Amen.