Author: Rick Schupp

Read: James 3:13-18

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Two teachers were once applying for the same Vice-Principal position at a local high school. One had been in teaching for eight years and the other for twenty. Everyone expected the teacher with more experience to get the job, but when a decision was made it was the person with less teaching experience who was chosen. The more experienced teacher complained to one of the School Board members, “I’ve got many more years of teaching than her, I’m far more qualified.”

The School Board member answered, “Yes sir, you do have much more teaching experience, but where she has eight years of teaching experience you have one year experience repeated twenty times.”

We sometimes assume that wisdom and intelligence are the same thing. They aren’t! Wise people have a variety of experiences – they get out and live – and they learn from those experiences. They don’t simply rely on theories, they put ideas into practice and learn from what happens – good or bad. They do the same thing every year for twenty years, they grow and develop and mature and adapt.

Intelligent people know things, wise people can take knowledge and apply it appropriately in different situations or environments. Intelligent people will often lack empathy or compassion for those who don’t know what they do. Wise people develop compassion and empathy and do not think their knowledge a reason to be proud or impatient.

Our actions (and words) reveal our wisdom. In today’s passage, James begins by asking who is wise and understanding. They should demonstrate it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. The wise person lives it out. They do good. They show kindness. They bless others.

At the heart of wisdom is humility. Proverbs 11:2 tells us, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” Humble people see themselves the way God does. They do not think too much of themselves; they don’t take themselves too seriously; and they don’t think the universe revolves around them! Instead, they know they have received grace and they show that same grace and mercy to others.

James contrasts humble wisdom with its counterfeit. He says if we have bitter envy and selfish ambition in our hearts, if we are proud and want things for ourselves and claim to be wise, we are lying. Wise people do not think too much of themselves. Such “wisdom” that elevates self does not come from God, but is the wisdom of the world. In fact, James says it is unspiritual, demonic.

When we put ourselves first, we are acting like everyone else in the world. When we put our own interests first, we deny God His rightful place. Our envy and ambition will not lead to wisdom, but to disorder and evil. We will do whatever we need to do to protect our position and undermine others. It might be subtle and “passive-aggressive” or more “in your face”, but it is selfish, evil, and wrong.

James contrasts the worldly wisdom that is earthly and unspiritual with wisdom the wisdom that comes from heaven. Such wisdom is characterized by purity. A wise life keeps itself free from sin and impurity. It chooses God’s ways over its own. Pure living is humble, wise living.

James says wisdom is peace-loving, considerate, submissive. Wisdom wants to bring peace, not discord. It considers others’ needs and honors them with kindness and consideration. It is willing to submit its own desires to God. These are people who are teachable. These are people who see themselves and others the way God does. These are people who want to win hearts more than arguments.

Those how have godly wisdom are also full of mercy and good fruit. Out of the previous attitudes come actions. Wise people are merciful. They bear good fruit. They seek to do God’s will in all their lives and to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in such a way that people know they are loved and are drawn to the grace of God.

James concludes the fruit of wisdom by saying it is impartial and sincere. Wisdom does not play favorites. It does not give the “movers and shakers” first place and ordinary people a lesser place. It does not defer to the rich or the powerful. They are sincere and true in their actions. They wisely see people’s value in Christ and live without hypocrisy in their actions.

James concludes by saying, Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. At first glance, this might seem to be an odd way to finish his thought. But, worldly wisdom focuses on self and brings discord. It does not make peace but leaves people feeling used, dishonored, unvalued, disrespected.

Wisdom like that described here humbly invites people to something better. It shows value for others. It honors them. It shows respect. Such wisdom lives in a way that people see the love of God in action and are invited to experience peace with Him and with the person of wisdom!

Which wisdom leads your life? Are you following the wisdom from above or earthly wisdom?

Reflect on your heart. If you find jealousy, envy, ambition that is actually selfish, then you are living by the world’s wisdom. But, if you find purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy, you are living the wisdom of God.

Depending on where your heart is, take time to confess your wrong attitudes or actions to God. Ask for forgiveness. Know that when we confess our sin, God does forgive us (1 John 1:9). Ask God if there might be anything you need to do to make things right. Ask him for the grace to do it!

Read: Romans 12:1-2

¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Have you ever read a familiar passage of Scripture – one you’ve read many times before – and in that moment it seems like you’ve never read it before? There is something so fresh; something so specific; something so insightful…and you wonder how you could have missed it before.

M. Robert Mulholland once wrote:

“Here is my set of working assumptions as to the nature of scripture: (1) The Word became text (2) to provide a place of transforming encounter with God (3) so that the Word might become flesh in us (4) for the sake of the world” (The Way of Scripture, p. 16).  His premise is that the Word of God is far deeper than we realize.  We often come to it with preconceived notions and already formed ideas of what we will find, but when we let the text of God’s Word speak for itself – as much as we are able – we find there is much more than meets the eye.

Let’s look more closely at his statement…

(1) The Word became text…We are familiar with John 1:14, “The Word became flesh…” It is the mystery of Jesus as fully God and fully man.  Mulholland suggests the fact that the Word was written down is also an incarnational mystery.  The text of Scripture also has a sense in which it is fully divine – inspired, inerrant – and fully human – written down by human authors under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration for human readers who need the same Holy Spirit to make clear it’s message and meaning.

(2) …to provide a place of transforming encounter with God…The text of Scripture confronts our preconceived notions.  It challenges our “sacred cows”.  It presents a radically different normal that challenges our cultural understanding of what normal is.  In the Bible, we encounter a kingdom turned upside down.  Mulholland suggests “our problem lies in assuming that life should be understood from within the framework of our worldview” (p. 20, emphasis his).  We need to be open to the reality that a biblical worldview may not be synonymous with my worldview – no matter what home culture I come from.  To open our hearts and lives to God’s Word is to open ourselves to being confronted and transformed.  “Through the transformation process we grow ever deeper into the loving union with God for which we were created and into which God continually nurtures us” (pp. 22-23).  We become the people God wants us to be.  We become people who are Christlike; who touch other’s lives with love, mercy, and grace.

(3) …that the Word might become flesh in us…Paul teaches us that “In (Jesus) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19).  We know and have heard that.  But Paul also prays for the Ephesians, “that you would be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).  Peter suggests much the same when he tells us that we “may become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).  As we are transformed by God’s Word, as we are conformed into Christ’s image, we grow into the image of Jesus.  We become like him.  We live like him.  Christ is formed in us (Galatians 4:19).  The Word becomes “enfleshed” or incarnated in our lives.

(4) …for the sake of the world.  In Jesus’ prayer in John 17, he prays that we would enjoy the kind of unity with the Father that he himself enjoyed with the Father (John 17:21). The purpose for this unity with the Father is “that the world might believe that [God] sent [Jesus}” (John 17:23).  More than perfect doctrine or nice church buildings or great worship music or inspiring liturgy… “the world will know and believe when it sees Jesus in us. The Word becomes flesh in us so that God’s transforming love might touch a broken and hurting world through us” (p. 26, emphasis his).  God’s Word takes root in us – not as an end in itself – but so that we know and love God more intimately and out of that transformational love, we love and touch others.  Mulholland states, “We will not find the ultimate meaning of scripture in an intellectual construct or formula.  The meaning of scripture is incarnational.  We never know scripture until we have allowed it to be a means of God’s transforming grace, empowering us to live the reality of the Word into our world” (p. 26, emphasis his).

May we come daily to God’s Word and in it truly encounter God in a way that changes us at our very core.  May we be a people who are steeped in God’s Word so much that it becomes flesh in us in such a way that we impact the world around us with God’s love for His glory!

Read: Matthew 12:33-37

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Just a few days ago was the spring equinox marking the beginning of Spring. In Washington D.C. it’s time for the Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20-April 14). Cherry trees all over our nation’s capital are producing beautiful flowers. While people may flock to see them, we might ask, do they produce fruit?

In today’s passage, Jesus says a tree is known not by its flowers, but by its fruit. Flowers are for “show”, but fruit is what reveals the character of the tree. Good trees produce good fruit; bad trees produce bad fruit – no matter how beautiful their flowers or how the fruit might appear from the outside!

Jesus says we can either make a tree good or a tree bad. In farming or gardening, we can care for a tree and feed and nurture it so it will be healthy. We can prune branches and protect it from insects and disease.

In our lives, we can become good trees or bad trees. It’s a matter, ultimately, of the heart. While our conduct, especially our speech, reveals our character – whether we are good or bad trees – our conduct or words do not make us good or bad. They simply what we treasure. They reveal what is in our hearts. Good people bring forth good actions and words; evil people bring up evil actions and words.

In verse 34, Jesus calls the Pharisees a “brood of vipers”. In the previous passage they had seen Jesus heal a man and when some who were present asked if Jesus could be the Son of David they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Out of the evil stored in their hearts, they spoke words of spite and hate. They rejected the work of God and credited it to Satan. Though people would have said the Pharisees were good trees, they produced bad fruit. They rejected the work of God in their midst.

Words and actions will not save us. But, if we are to become the good trees that produce good fruit; if we are to be the kind of people who speak from a heart full of good treasure; we need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to change us. We need new hearts. When our hearts have been transformed, our words and actions will reflect it. Our lives will bear good fruit and it will be fruit that lasts.

It starts with faith. We trust in Jesus and his work on the cross. We accept our spiritual emptiness and accept his gracious offer to take our place. In his death and resurrection, we find life and become new creations. In this new relationship, we receive the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our future with God.

Now, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling knowing we cannot transform ourselves, God is doing that, but we must cooperate with him (Philippians 2:12-13). Grace is not against effort, it’s against earning. We must seek after God through spiritual practices like meditating on Scripture; conversational prayer; solitude; fasting; worship; service; self-reflection; confession; gratitude. When we pursue Jesus with our whole hearts, we give the Holy Spirit space to transform us…to prune what doesn’t belong; to fertilize what is good; to make us more like Jesus.

Take time to consider the major parts of your life – family, work, church, friendships, your personal relationship with God. Ask God to show you places where you fall short of Christlikeness. Ask God to do whatever work needs to be done to make you a “good tree” in that area. Be as honest as you can about areas in your life that are not producing good fruit. Invite him to transform every area. Consider what he would invite you go do to cooperate in that process!

Read: Psalm 127:1-2

From time to time, stories appear on the news about sinkholes, usually caused by water erosion, that swallow up cars, houses, and people.  We’ve all observed the frightening problems that result when houses are built on top of less than solid ground, and erosion creates a sinkhole.  The refrain of a familiar old hymn concludes, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”  Faith in Christ is the solid foundation for every undertaking.

Self-reliance.  Ambition. Diligence.  These are values that we applaud in the United States in the 21^st century.  And they should be applied to the tasks that we undertake.  However, as Christians, no matter how diligently we work, unless our life rests securely on a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ and we ask the blessing of the Lord on our work, neither the work we undertake, nor our very life, will be of lasting value.

Three times in today’s Scripture, the word vain appears.  The sense in which vain is used here is “producing no result or useless.”  These verses refer to builders laboring in vain, guards standing watch in vain, and to the futility of rising early and staying up late toiling for food to eat. . . in vain.   At the end of the day, God grants sleep to those He loves.

Ten years ago this June, the world was jolted by the news that Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” had died of cardiac arrest caused by an overdose of drugs.  As he rehearsed for an upcoming concert tour, Jackson was desperate for sleep.  After Jackson’s death, it was revealed that he had been given the drug Propophol for sixty consecutive days.  Although Propofol leaves a patient feeling as if they have experienced genuine sleep, it is an anesthetic.   It disrupts the normal sleep cycle and offers no REM sleep. If Jackson had not died of an overdose, the lack of sleep may have resulted in his death within days anyway, according to the testimony of a sleep expert from the Harvard Medical School.

What’s the foundation for your life and your work?  Are you resting securely on the solid rock of Jesus, or is there erosion happening beneath the surface that could result in a collapse?   To be secure requires God’s grace and your faith.  Keep your eyes on Jesus who, as Scripture tells us, is the “founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)    As Resurrection Sunday draws closer, and we reflect on the awesome work of our Lord Jesus, let us rest in him, seek his blessing on our work, and depend on the sure foundation of the cross in every aspect of our lives.

Pastor John

Read: John 6:60-71

⁶⁰ When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? ⁶² Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” 

⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹ and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:60-63 and 66-69)

Growing up, most of us were taught not to put all our eggs in one basket. This idiom comes from an old proverb, most likely Spanish or Italian. It is first found in print during the 17^th century. The idea is that you should not gather all the eggs from your hens into one basket because if you should drop the basket, you lose all your eggs.  The idiom appears in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1615): “…to withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action when there’s more reason to fear than to hope; ’tis the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket.”

For centuries, this has been common advice and practice for most people. We hear, “I know you want to be an actor, but you still need to have a good education. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Or, “I applied to ten different colleges. I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.”

When it comes to faith, too often people do the same thing. They try a little of this and a little of that to see which one “works”. Sometimes, if they pray to Jesus and he doesn’t come through like they expect, well maybe Buddha will or the horoscope or something else. Other times, they want to do something or live a certain way and the Bible says that is not appropriate. Instead of adjusting their life to God’s Word, they pick and choose what to obey or they simply move on to a different faith that allows them to do as they please.

In John 6, Jesus has fed the five thousand and they have followed him for another meal. In response, he has said some difficult to understand words about “eating his flesh” and “drinking his blood”. When those who had been following Jesus heard him say these things, many said they were hard sayings. In verse 66, many turn back and no longer follow him.

Jesus then addresses the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Is this saying too hard for you too? Jesus words are spirit and life (verse 63).

Peter answers profoundly. Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. They may be hard. They do not allow for one foot in and one foot out. There is no hedging our bets. We cannot simply add a little Jesus to what we are already doing. It’s all or nothing. Either Jesus is Lord of all or he is not Lord at all. We believe. We know you are the Holy One of God. We’ve put all our eggs in your basket.

Imagine how difficult Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion were for the disciples. It seemed that all their eggs were crushed. All their hopes were gone. All their faith had been shattered. Though Jesus had told them exactly what was going to happen, they had not understood.

Where are you with Jesus today?  Are you trusting in him alone as the only one with the words of eternal life or have you hedged your bets?

What do you do when God doesn’t answer prayer like you want or life is hard?

Have you put all your spiritual eggs in Jesus’ basket? Is there any area in your life where you are trying to do things in your own strength or you are looking to something other than Jesus for help or comfort?

Perhaps you would offer this prayer I found from a church in California as your prayer for wholehearted commitment to Jesus:

Heavenly Father, I humble myself in worship before you.  All glory, honor, and praise belong to you.  I thank you for life, and for all that you have done for me through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.  I surrender myself to your perfect will and commit myself totally and wholeheartedly to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Please forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  I turn away from all that has its source in the world, the flesh, or the devil and I turn to you, O God.  Please produce within my life Christ-like thinking, character, and behavior.  I desire to walk in love and humility and to lead a life that pleases you.  Also, I ask you to empower me to do the work to which I have been called.  Use me for your glory and the establishment of your kingdom.

I commit my time, my talents, and my resources to you.  Everything that I have has been given to me by you, so I offer these gifts back to you for your holy use.  I pray that every good seed that I plant will yield a rich harvest of souls, righteousness, and blessing.

Finally, dear Jesus, I am so thankful for your loving sacrifice.  You have made salvation, healing, deliverance, peace, and so many wonderful things available to me, so I commit myself to your Lordship with joy and thanksgiving.

In the name of Jesus, Amen

Read: Mark 8:34

³⁴ And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his soul?³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

There is a scene in the movie, A Knight’s Tale, where two of the main characters, William and Jocelyn, are in a cathedral. They haven’t seen one another in a long time after an argument, but William has written a beautifully poetic letter apologizing to Jocelyn and professing his love for her.

As they meet in the cathedral, Jocelyn asks him to recite poetry like he had written in the letter. William, who had many helpers with the letter, is tongue-tied and unable to wax poetic. They go back and forth, arguing, until finally William, in exasperation, cries, “Jocelyn, how may I prove my love to you? How?”

Jocelyn: If you would prove your love…do your worst.

William: My worst? What do you mean?

J: Instead of winning to honor me with your high reputation, act against your character and do badly.

W: Do badly?

J: Lose.

W: Losing proves nothing except that I’m a loser.

J: Wrong. Losing is a much keener test of your love. Losing would contradict your self-love. It would show obedience to your lover and not yourself!

Often when I share this scene with people – youth groups, Bible studies etc. – people think Jocelyn is being horrible. She’s asking too much. She should ask him to do his best, not his worst. In the movie, William does go on to lose several jousts and in the process is beaten and bruised. Finally. when he is on the brink of being eliminated…well, I don’t want to spoil the movie for you!

We want life to be glorious and romantic. We don’t mind a bit of struggle, but we want to overcome – to pull ourselves up and will ourselves to victory. In Mark 8, before the verses printed above, Jesus told the disciples he was going to suffer many things and be rejected and killed and rise on the third day. In Mark 8:32, Peter rebukes Jesus and tells him it will never happen!

But, the way of Jesus is the path of self-denial. We cannot do enough. We cannot be good enough. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Jesus does not call us to get it all together, to win the day, and then follow him. He calls us where we are and invites us to lose. He invites us to give up our best efforts and our high reputation and our incredible wisdom and knowledge. He calls us to deny ourselves – our plans and our pursuits – for him and for his sake. He promises if we will, he will save our lives and give us far more than we could even imagine.

Honestly, I know very little about true sacrifice, true self-denial. My whole life is about consuming. My whole life is about satisfying my own appetites. But during Lent, for at least a few weeks, I am more mindful of the clutter in my heart that distracts me from God. I am more aware of how so many things in and around me can actually weigh me down and keep me from the deep intimacy and joy Jesus offers.

Jesus doesn’t ask me to prove my love to him. Instead, he asks me to lose; to give up my pursuit of my selfish desires to build my kingdom and my reputation and my collection of stories exalting my wit and intelligence…and to come to him – not because of what I offer, but because of what I need. I am spiritually bankrupt apart from Jesus. I can go anywhere in the world and gain all of it – but he alone has the words of eternal life. He alone can give me what is truly satisfying.

I want to follow Jesus. But to do so, I must lose daily. I must deny myself daily. I must die to self daily. As I give the Holy Spirit freedom to blow the chaff from my soul; to do spring-cleaning in my heart; to clear out the clutter; I’ll find that what he offers in its place is so much richer and more life-giving.

Questions for Reflection:

• What activities, behaviors, and relationships are most distracting to your spiritual life these days?
• Which ones keep you from seeking God with all your heart?
• Ask God for the grace to deny yourself and to seek after him in those areas. What are the things you can lay down and what should you pick up so you might focus more on Him?
• Are you willing to lose everything for the sake of Jesus?

Read: Psalm 119:1-40 & 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11)

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

On March 22, 1922, US Postmaster Hubert Work ordered that all homes in our

country must have mailboxes. This created a greater connection between people We live in quite a different world now from then. Checking the mailbox may still be a daily ritual for most, but it’s far from our primary connector. Rather our phones and our televisions act as primary connectors to others and the world, and they own our attention far more than a once a day check.

The Psalmist speaks of a love for the Word which transforms his heart, viewing God’s law as the most precious thing in life. He cannot go a day or even less without thinking on and acting out the truth of the Word. Remember, for the writer the Word here wouldn’t even include most of what we have as the Bible as it hadn’t been written. So rooted and rich are his meditations on the Word, that even with mostly law and early Bible stories, he believes the Word is the most important thing in his life.

Paul encourages the church in Thessalonica to pray without ceasing. His consistent prayer and communication with God went with him everywhere, including into the pit of prison after being beaten and chained.

Applying these verses to our lives through the illustration of communication, it seems that the Christian connection to the Lord is more cell phone than mailbox. We don’t merely check in with the Lord on our once a day walk to the spiritual mailbox, but maintain consistent connection with our great God.

Where are you in regard to staying connected with the Lord through His Word and Prayer? Have you developed at least a daily check in with the Lord? What could that look like? What is keeping you from that step?

If you are having a daily time of some sort with the Lord, how can you move Him from a spiritual “mailbox” to a consistent “cell phone notification?” What things will you do to remind yourself of God’s Word regularly? Maybe try an app like “Gotandem” if you are a phone user, or just place verses on post-its around your world.

What things can you do to remember to pray throughout the day? Sometimes picking a different thing each week as a prayer reminder can help. For example, this week every time you hear a siren you will take a moment to thank God for your life and ask Him to lead you to use it for His glory.

The way in which we all pursue constant contact with the Word and prayer will look different for all, but as believers it is something we pray we all pursue.

Read: Luke 18:1-8

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 

² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 

⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? ⁸ I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

George Muller, the great Victorian Christian and social reformer, tells a story of persistent prayer in his diary:

“In November 1844, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. I prayed every day without a single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land, on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be. Eighteen months elapsed before the first of the five was converted. I thanked God and prayed on for the others. Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God for the second and prayed on for the other three. Day by day, I continued to pray for them, and six years passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three and went on praying for the other two. These two remained unconverted.”

Thirty-six years later he wrote that the other two, sons of one of Mueller’s friends, were still not converted. He wrote, “But I hope in God, I pray on, and look for the answer. They are not converted yet, but they will be.”

In 1897, fifty-two years after he began to pray daily, without interruption, for these two men, they were finally converted—but after he died!

In Luke 18, Jesus told a story to encourage us to pray and not lose heart. Like the example of George Muller, he wants us to pray and persevere. His story centers on a judge and a widow. Judges were appointed in the Old Testament to serve God and to ensure justice for all God’s people. When King Jehoshaphat appointed judges in 2 Chronicles 19, he instructed them:

“Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. ⁷ Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7)

In this parable, though, Jesus introduces us to a judge who doesn’t fear God and doesn’t respect people. He is a very difficult man. He won’t hear a cry to give justice “for God’s sake” and he won’t be moved by an inner sense of what is honorable or what is shameful. The implication is that this judge can only be influenced by bribery.

To this judge comes an innocent, powerless widow. In a male-dominated society, she had no one to speak up for her. In Scripture, time and again God called his people to care for the widow among them – to give a voice to the voiceless. In Isaiah 1:17, as God calls his people to repent for their sin, he says “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” And then in verse 23, in detailing the people’s sin he declares, “They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.”

Jesus tells us how this widow comes to the unjust judge to plead her case. And yet, he refuses. For some time, he will not hear her pleas. But the widow continues to beg for justice; to plead for mercy. Finally, the judge says to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’

The idea of “beat me down” is also translated “wear me out” in other places. This judge is not afraid of God. He isn’t going to do something just because she is a poor widow. But he is sick and tired of her coming to him day after day after day. It’s giving him a headache! In the end, he gives her justice, so he won’t have to listen to her anymore!

Jesus taught this parable so we would pray and not lose heart.  If this unrighteous, unjust judge will meet the needs of this powerless widow, how much more will the needs of God’s children be met by their loving, heavenly Father? No matter how discouraging or how hopeless our situation might be, it is not as bad as that widow.

We can know with certainty that God hears our prayers; he hears our petitions. He knows our needs. He will move and he will answer. When fear grips us; when anxiety assails us; when we do not know what to do….we need to pray continually with full confidence that God will hear and will act in our best interests.

Jesus affirms that God will answer our prayers and he will not delay in doing right. He answers the parable with a question, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Will we, God’s people, trust him through the trials and troubles of life? Will we cling to him and persist in seeking him even when it seems he is slow to answer or slow to bring justice? Will we stand firm to the end?

The character of God is again our motivation to pray. He will do the best things in the best ways for us and he will do them at the right time. We await his return and until he does, we persist in prayer and in seeking after him with all our hearts.

Questions for reflection:

• What things have you prayed for over a long period of time that it doesn’t seem like God has answered?
• How have you or can you overcome the discouragement that often comes with a delayed answer? What motivates you to persist in prayer?
• Waiting over a long time for God to answer prayer can shake one’s faith in God’s character as a good Father. What has been your experience in that regard? Why do you think?
• Will you trust God through the trials and challenges of life?
• Will you cling to God and persist in seeking him even when he seems slow to answer?
• Will you stand firm to the end?

Read: Luke 11:5-13

⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence[1] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 

⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

In Luke’s gospel, after Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer as a model of how to pray, Jesus told this story. Traditionally, many have seen this as a parable about persisting in prayer. The idea is that the man comes to the door at midnight and his friend is in bed. He keeps knocking on the door until finally his friend gets fed up and begrudgingly gives him what he wants.

The application is that we should pray persistently because eventually God will give us what we want. This is bad theology! We cannot wear God down until he begrudgingly gives us what we want! There are times when God has us wait until he answers our prayers; but if we ask for the wrong thing, he won’t eventually give it to us if we just pray enough! While Scripture does teach that we should “always pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1), this parable has a different purpose.

I believe Jesus intends us to understand the parable this way:

A man has unexpected guests arrive very late – a common occurrence in first century Palestine where there were no phones and very hot, dry conditions. The community probably had only one oven for baking bread. The man knew who had made bread that day. To set stale bread or partial pieces of bread before his guest would be considered rude. He goes to his neighbor fully convinced that asking for this basic need would not be refused.

He knocks on the door, calls out his need and his friend says, “Nope. Sorry, I’m in bed.” The man would continue on to the next neighbor and tell him, “Sorry to bother you, but Joe over there refused to help me. Can you believe it? What a jerk!” And by morning, everyone in the village would know what a stingy person Joe is. He would be persona non grata and completely shamed in the community.

Therefore, Jesus says, “I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence (in avoiding shame) he will rise and give him whatever he needs. Do you see the difference? The man inside is a man of honor. He will not act in a way that would bring shame. He will do the right thing. He will give him, not just bread, but anything he needs.

Now we see how the parable makes sense! God is even more honorable than that man in bed. He always does what is right and will always avoid bring shame on himself. If we ask, seek, or knock, God our Father will answer us. We will find him. We will open the door to us. He is a good, good Father.

Good earthly fathers know that if a child asks for a fish, you don’t give them a serpent. Or if they ask for an egg, you don’t give them a scorpion. How much more will our heavenly Father give us good gifts if we ask? How much more will he delight to give us his very Spirit to dwell within us to lead us and guide us?

This is our motivation to pray! We have a Father in heaven whose character is perfect. We have a Father in heaven who does the best things in the best ways. We can pray with confidence knowing that he may not give us what we ask for, but he will answer and what he does give is always best!

What motivates you to pray? What keeps you from praying?

In light of this parable, how should knowing God’s character influence your prayer life?

What does Jesus identify as the kinds of things we should be praying for?

Reflect on your prayer life. What could you do this week in light of this passage? How might this parable provide a model for prayer?

[1] Different translations have a hard time with “his persistence”.

NIV has “the man’s boldness” and applies it to the man at the door.

ESV has “his impudence” with a footnote saying it could be “his persistence” both of which could apply to either the man at the door or the man in bed.

NAS translates it “his persistence” and its footnote is “his shamelessness”. Again, it could apply to either person. Kenneth Bailey suggests, and I agree, that “his persistence” applies to the man in bed. He is one who persists in avoiding shame. As we’ll see, I think this makes better sense – and theology!

Read: I John 5:13-15.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

The apostle John tells us in this Scripture passage that we can pray with confidence.  If you are a follower of Jesus, John is writing to tell you several important things.  He begins by reassuring us that whatever trials, tribulations, failures, and disappointments come our way, they are insignificant compared to eternity, and we can be confident that we will spend eternity in the presence of the loving God we worship.

Second, prayer is powerful and we can be confident that God hears us when we pray.  If we ask anything according to His will, God hears our prayers (verse 14). Third, not only does He hear our prayers, but we have the assurance that our prayers will be answered.  This doesn’t mean that we can “name it and claim it,” and have a new luxury car, house, or a million dollars.  Nor does it mean that any of our own ideas of our needs, wants, and desires will be immediately fulfilled.  It does mean something even more important.  If our request is “according to his will,” we know that “we have what we asked of him.” (verse 15).

As a young university professor, I aspired to leave my university position, and move on to a larger, more prestigious music school.  In the course of one academic year in the early 1980s, I interviewed for three different positions.  I prayed fervently that God would clear the way for me to move into the one best suited to me.  Yet, one by one, each door was closed.  Hadn’t God heard my requests?  Didn’t He understand that I was well-suited for a more prestigious position?  Didn’t He care about me?  Why hadn’t He answered my prayer?

In fact, God did hear and answer my prayer.  At the time, from my human perspective, it wasn’t the answer that I desired, but my loving God knew what was best for me and my family.  He had things in mind for me that I couldn’t envision.  He is an awesome God!

According to His will. . .Finding God’s will is essential for effective prayer.  Through prayer, we align ourselves with God’s will, rather than pleading for Him to satisfy our needs, wants, and desires.  During the season of Lent, remember the importance that Jesus placed on prayer.  Throughout his ministry, Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father.  He taught the disciples to pray, Thy will be done.  This Scripture provides assurance that when we seek God’s will for our lives, our prayers will be effective, God will hear them, and they will be answered.

Are you confident that your prayers are heard and answered? What does this passage teach us about effective prayer, and how can you apply it to your prayer life?  During Lent as we reflect on our Lord Jesus, and anticipate the coming of Resurrection Sunday, help us to learn what God’s will for our life is through prayer to our heavenly Father.

Pastor John