When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? – Luke 18:8
What is the point of prayer? Is it to try to convince God to give us what we are asking for? Or maybe it is to “bother” God until He finally relents to answering. Or is there any point at all to pray? After all, God already knows what is going to happen in the future!
Jesus told a parable at the beginning of Luke 18 that helps to answer this question. In fact, Luke introduced it as one that Jesus told: “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). The parable was about a corrupt judge and a widow who kept begging him for justice against an adversary. While the judge initially ignored the woman’s pleas, he eventually gave in to her requests so that she would leave him alone.
By telling this story, Jesus contrasted how God, a righteous judge, differs from that of an unrighteous one, such as the judge in the story. God does not act simply to keep from being bothered by His children or delay His answers to them. Jesus’ point in this story is to encourage God’s followers to continue to pray. He was reminding them that faith in God means not losing heart.
This reminder is just as important to believers today. How do you see God – like the unrighteous judge or as a righteous one? Do you pray trusting that He will answer? As you spend time in prayer, examine your heart. Ask God to show you where your faith in Him may be lacking. Let today be the day your prayer life gets back on track, as you lift the nation up to God.
Today’s Verse: Luke 18:8
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 5:13-15, 19-20
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
