Zach (14:32)
You know prayer isn't unique to Christianity, right? Every religion prays. There are even some atheistic gatherings that pray as a habit of mindfulness. What sets us apart in our belief is who we are praying to God and his character. It's easy to lose heart in prayer or to grow tired in prayer, because we don't always have a solid and grounded understanding of who we are praying to. We're praying to a generous, loving and giving God who listens intently to our pleas. But sometimes it's hard to perceive him that way. The judge in Jesus parable didn't fear God or have a heart for the law. He was most likely a Roman magistrate hired to oversee Jewish disputes. He lacked empathy, nuance and mercy. This judge is meant to show us a contrast to God's heart. God isn't cold and calloused like this judge. God is attentive, personal and abundant in mercy. The unjust judge only reluctantly answered the woman's request. Jesus didn't give this parable to say that God was like this judge, but rather that he was unlike him. God loves to answer our prayers. He even helps us when we pray. It says that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf, even when all we have to offer are groans and mumblings. You see, God is on your side when you pray. He's not against you, as the unjust judge was against this widow. Some of us have a skewed image of God, though, and that hinders our prayer life. Sometimes we perceive God as a judge shaking his head and banging his gavel against us. That's why when some of us Pray. We think we have to overcome God's reluctance, like the widow did to the judge. This misses the point of the parable entirely. We don't have to annoy God to gain his ear. We don't have to pester him to answer our prayers. However, we are encouraged to match this widow's persistence. We are meant to be on our knees daily, seeking God's will and imploring him to help us. He may delay, but there is a refining process for us as he waits to answer us. Persistence in prayer brings a transforming element into our lives. It builds us into the character of God himself. It is a way that God molds and shapes our hearts to care about things in the same way that he does. If we pray for something and then forget to follow up the next day, that must mean that it wasn't all that important after all. You see, God encourages us to engage in less flippant and fleeting prayers, exchanging them for more earnest and persistent prayers. The things we're persistent in prayer for daily are the things worth praying for. The more you pray for something or someone, the deeper your heart is moved and the more honestly you engage with God in the first place. That's where real transformation occurs, in the persistent, continual and unrelenting seeking that happens between you and God. But let's not bury the lead here. If we pray for a Ferrari and God delays in answering, we understand that he's probably purposefully withholding that thing. And the more we pray for it, the more we realize we don't need it. But what about people who pray for something really important? What about people who pray for something really important, like justice? That's what this widow was praying for. That's what this widow was pleading for day after day. She wanted justice. You see, those in the fire of persecution or who are enduring injustice or a great deal of suffering need special grace to persevere. They need the refining and beautiful process of prayer. All the more, they need to be assured that God is not like the unjust judge. That's why Jesus reassures us that justice will come. God is not lax or apathetic to the suffering of his people. He heard the cries of his people in Egypt. He sent heroes to save his people when they repented and called out to him. God will always make a way, and he's always going to make things right. Now the timing of that is in question. But as we wait for now, you and I get the distinct privilege of being ministers of justice here on Earth. We get to be agents of change. His Feet moving to people in need and his hands healing those who are suffering. You see, Jesus has called us to be the answer to some people's prayers. James 2 says this. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he doesn't have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, go, be in peace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say to you, oh, I have faith and I have works. Well, show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. This is deep and abiding wisdom from James. He is saying that many people are going to pray for many things, and our prayers ought to be persistent for people that are in need, but our prayers should be matched with action. Suppose someone comes up to you and says, I've been really lonely lately and I feel like I don't have a lot of community around me. Can you pray that God would send me community? It's one thing to say, God, I pray that this person would have community. I pray that you would send people their way that would love them and support them and cheer them on in life. It's another thing entirely to invite them out for coffee, to invite them over to your house for a meal, and to engage in fellowship with that person so that you could be the answer to their prayer. So Jesus is going to bring ultimate change and ultimate answer to our prayers into eternity. But he also might use us individually to meet the needs. Now, there are people in your neighborhood praying for help. Have you made yourself available? There are lonely co workers praying for a friend. Have you been attentive to those people around you? You may very well be the answer to someone's plea. Be alert, be ready, and always remember, God is not a wicked judge shaking his head in judgment over you. He's a loving father wanting to hear your pleas, hear your embrace, and transform your life. Thanks for joining us today on the Jesus Podcast. If these stories have brought value to your faith, consider leaving us a review. We would love to hear from you. And we would love to hear how the stories of Jesus told in this way are actually transforming lives. This is an iHeart podcast.
