Wednesday 5 September, 2012

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

I used to read through this passage and think, ‘but I don’t have any adversaries? I don’t need justice.’ In researching the passage further I realised that I have discounted the spiritual adversaries, the devil, and even sin itself. God has promised believers victory over the devil and over sin. When I am oppressed by these adversaries I am challenged to be like the widow, to cry out to God continually and He will deliver me from my enemies. I am weak and defenceless on my own, like the widow, but that’s where the simila

rities end. I do not seek justice and deliverance from an unjust judge, but from a righteous judge. I appeal to my heavenly father, who loves me and is moved by compassion towards me. If the widow persevered and won in poor circumstances, how much more should I be full of hope and expectancy that God will deliver me.

Lord, please help me to apply this to my life, that I would identify enemy activity and cry out to you, that you would intervene on my behalf, and deliver me. Amen.

Written by Beth Waugh