Luke 18:1-8 | I Thessalonians 5:12-24
Does it encourage you or not that Jesus encouraged the disciples to not give up? There’s something here about his character or technique that’s a bit different than we’ve been seeing in these recent chapters of Luke.
This encouragement to keep going might seem an interesting thing from Jesus, the one who could make the miraculous happen in nothing but a moment. It might even seem more realistic.
But that’s not the main point here is it?
Keep going. Keep asking. Keep seeking justice.
In the end, this is about faith and faithfulness.
Luke 18:1-8
Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”
I Thessalonians 5:12-24
Brothers and sisters, we ask you to respect those who are working with you, leading you, and instructing you. Think of them highly with love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are disorderly. Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone. Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else. Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t suppress the Spirit. Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages, but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil. Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming. The one who is calling you is faithful and will do this.
Prayer
God,
We do want justice. I’m not always sure we truly understand what justice actually is, but we know that the current situation is not right. It is unjust. And we want change.
So perhaps this prayer is twofold: 1. Make things to be different than they are. 2. Teach us how things should be.
We believe that you are the righteous one, that you know what is good, right, and true. So we pray for your will and way to be. Help us as we work toward it. Give us persistence, but also protect us in the midst of it all.
And indeed: bring your justice.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.