Our scripture for this week is Luke 18:1-8.
“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.’” Luke 18:2-3 NIV
We aren’t told the specifics of the widow’s issue, but it was worth having to deal with the justice system in order to get resolution. Anyone who has ever had a legal matter knows that this is not something done lightly. Dealing with what many scholars call the “unjust judge” could only make it worse. However, the scripture tells us she was persistent in her claim, and “kept coming to him with the plea”.
Jesus teaches that this kind of persistence is needed in our faith life. We should not be deterred by the roadblocks the world throws in our paths, but as Paul writes “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). God’s promise is not that we will be free of all trouble in life, but that our faith and our connection to Him will allow us to stand against the issues we face.
The widow in this parable was not receiving justice in her case, but she continued to go to the judge with her request. When she didn’t obtain a favorable ruling, she didn’t give up. Her repeated engagement is an example of faithful persistence for us.
Gracious God, we are grateful for Your love that is constant and eternal. Help us to be persistent in our faith, following the example that Jesus set for us, and loving the world as He did. Amen.