Thursday, July 9
Read: Luke 18
In the beginning of Luke 18, we are given two parables that both deal with prayer. The first one of the persistent widow shows us the importance of continuous prayer. Although the Judge neither cared for God or people, he still gave justice to the widow who showed great persistence. This is how we should pray! Continually and never stopping! And if an unjust judge is willing to answer the plea of an “insignificant widow,” then how much more is a God who cares for our needs willing to answer our prayers! This parable shows us the character of God in prayer, that he does in fact respond to our concerns and needs! So we must remain persistent in our prayer with faith that God just doesn’t hear, but responds to our requests as well.
The second parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector deals with the heart of the person praying. Here we have the Pharisee, someone who was normally considered of a religious and righteous person by society, telling God how he has refrained from sin and goes beyond the expectations of fasting. But he gives no honor to God, no recognition of His glory. It is as if the Pharisee went to God to say, “God, I am so great! Aren’t I awesome?” Worst of all, he tells God how he is not like the tax collector. His pride not only turns his focus towards himself, but he begins to believe that he is above other people and begins to look down on his neighbor. Are we not all created equally in the image of God?
Then we have the tax collector, the most hated profession possible for a Jew, who is sometimes compared with sinners. Yet he is the one who humbly walks to God, knowing he is unworthy of his glory, and asks for mercy. The beating of his breast was common form of contrition, a prayer of repentance. Even though a tax collector may be considered a sinner, his prayer is the righteous prayer. We must remember that all are object of God’s grace and Mercy!
“Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9:18-19).
We then get this episode of a rich ruler asking Jesus advice to inherit eternal life. God tells him some commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steel, do not bear false testimony and honor you mother and father. Although the man has kept these commands, Jesus leaves out the first five commandments (look at Exodus 20:1-17). The one Jesus listed to the rich ruler are about how you treat others and love your neighbor. The first five deal with loving God. That is what the rich ruler lacked! If he truly loved God, how can he refuse to fallow Jesus? The two go hand in hand. Although he did a good job loving his neighbor, last five commandments, he forgot one of the most important commands, to love God above all else!
Jesus is not suggesting that to enter into the kingdom of God, we must sell everything we own. He was exposing the man of how he loved money more than God. But Jesus also makes the statement, “it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” (18:25). The Greek word used in this verse, belone, literally means a sewing needle. Jesus is saying an expression of the impossible! Yet he doesn’t leave us hanging with disappointment of never inheriting eternal life. Jesus gives a responce about the grace of God in our lives by saying, “what is impossible for men is possible for God.” (18:27). Only when we fully love God, will we inherit the kingdom of God, and through God, he will accomplish the impossible in our lives!
Process:
Prayer extends beyond simply bowing our heads and talking to God. Prayer is being in the presence of God! What other ways can pray. How can we remain in the presence of God. Is it possible to be in prayer all the time?
Take some time to look at Exodus 20:1-17 if you haven’t already. These commandments can be divided as loving your God (1-5) and loving your neighbor (6-11). Are you upholding to both those commands? Are you truly loving God above all else or are the things in your life you tend to place more importance on?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heat and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)