Easter Devotion (Sunday) - Never Stop Praying

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 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? 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?”
Luke 18:1-8 

In Jesus' time, widows were especially vulnerable. Inheritances went to sons, not wives. Often the only person who could assure that a widow was treated fairly was a judge. But in this parable, the city's judge was corrupt and godless. Maybe he was holding out for a bribe, or was making deals with the widow's adversary, but he refused to listen to her. 

But she did not give up. Her constant requests caused him to finally do what was right. If her persistence caused an unjust man to do good, how much more would our compassionate and loving God respond to the calls of those in need?

Our Lord is profoundly concerned with mercy and justice. As God's children, we can confidently and persistently pray for people to respond to one another in a Christlike way. But as we pray, should we also guard against our own human behavior? Praying for justice means that we must treat others justly. Pleading with God for mercy means that we must live lives of grace. We may see ourselves as the persistent widow in this parable, but must always guard against being the judge who will not listen to others in need of justice and mercy. 

Prayer: Lord of mercy and justice, may Your grace rule all the people of the world, starting with me! Thank you for your compassion and love and that You hear my prayers and answer. Help me to respond to others with patience and understanding. In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

*This devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink