This week in Luke we’re told right up front why Jesus taught the disciples with this parable.
“He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).”
There can be many reasons we don’t always pray as we ought. We neglect prayer out of laziness and distraction. We ignore prayer out of a false sense of independence. But the parable Jesus tells in Luke 18:1-8 is to encourage us when we are tempted to give up praying out of discouragement and weariness. When the cost of following Jesus is hard and it feels like our prayers are hitting the ceiling and remaining unanswered we can lose heart.
Many of the Psalms were written from this place of discouragement. Again and again we find the question, “How long, O Lord?” How long until “God gives justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night (Luke 18:7)?” Through two unlikely characters, Jesus tells another story to give us confidence that our God is a righteous Judge and that our praying is not in vain.
This Sunday Erik Thoennes will be preaching Luke 18:1-8 and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And let’s ask God to make us a church that prays “at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication… alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).”
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
SONG OF THE WEEK
The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours) by Matt Maher
Father, let your kingdom come
Father, let your will be done
On earth as in heaven
Right here in our hearts