Day 301 - Luke 16-18

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 301 - Luke 16-19 (Pray Until God Answers, Then Accept His Answer)
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"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, "Get justice for me from my adversary.'  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, "Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."'  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  (Luke 18:1-8)

Yesterday, our text dealt with Jesus' promise of the Father's unlimited provision for His children.  Today, our Scripture passage deals with the believer's perseverance in prayer; that is, as children of our heavenly Father, we must keep on praying until God answers and that we ought not to lose heart.

It is a fact that not all prayers of believers, no matter how good they may be, are answered by God.  The apostle Paul himself in writing to the said that he prayed to God three times for his thorn in the flesh (which most likely referred to some kind of illness) be removed but God did not grant him his request.  In Paul's case, we are blessed to know the reason for God's refusal - God said it was so that "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)."

Oftentimes, God delays in answering our prayers as in the case of Lazarus' death.  When Lazarus became seriously ill, his sisters, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus so that He may come and heal him.  When the message reached Jesus, however, He decided to linger two more days before departing from wherever He was for two more days so much so that when He arrived in Bethany where Lazarus lived, he had been dead four days!

We know from the story recorded in John chapter 11 that Jesus raised Lazarus back to life when He finally arrived in Bethany.  We also know the reason why Jesus delayed in answering the request of Mary and Martha - Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it (John 11:4)." 

Many of us have heard that God answers our prayers in three ways: Yes, No, and Wait.  Based on many evidences in Scripture including the ones I referred to above, it apparently seems so.  Praying until God answers, or until we learn the answer, is God's will for us as His children.  

I believe it is also God's will that whatever answer God gives for our prayers, we need to fully accept it even if we don't like the answer.   May we all have the same attitude as the apostle Paul when he finally learned that God would not answer his prayer:

          "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon             me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses,           for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)."