Luke 18:1-8…
Jesus had been speaking on being prepared for His return, and the coming kingdom of God. Here He continues. He is not just giving them some random teaching about persisting in prayer so that you will move God to action. He had told them about the difficulty of the coming times. In light of that, many may give up their prayer life. He encourages us to remain steadfast. He is speaking about having, not just a saving faith, but a living faith.
This is about continuing to pray, that is to trust, that Jesus will one day return and that ultimate justice will one day be done. Jesus wants believers to avoid the traps He had just spoken of (Luke 17:22-37). He wants them to avoid following after false prophets who promise signs and wonders and a false presence of the kingdom, the trap of overzealous expectation. He also wants them to avoid the trap of falling back into a routine life of worldly preoccupation which lacks a passion for His return, marked by a lack of prayer.
Jesus will return, and He will vindicate Himself, and His church, and His people, those who have trusted in Him, who have had to suffer injustice on account of following Him. It is a promise, and each day is one day closer to its fulfillment (Romans 13:11). Are we acting as if we believe that? It is easier to just sort of give up and coast along. But it is not the right thing to do (1 John 2:28). Jesus wants us to continue to fight the uphill battle of faith (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Faithfulness through all the trials and troubles of life, in the midst of this wicked world, is an act of worship (cf. Philippians 2:14-15). Are we living for Christ, winning others to Christ, and edifying our brothers and sisters in Christ? We may think so, but remember none of this is truly being done if it is not bathed in persistent prayer.
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