Bible League: Living His Word Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart...— Luke 18:1 NKJV Don't lose heart! As amply indicated in the Bible, this command applies to the Christian life in general. For example, the Apostle Paul says: "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thessalonians 3:13). Even if things look bad on the outside, we should not lose heart: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16). Especially when it comes to the ministries we've been given, we should not lose heart: "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4:1). And if we don't lose heart, we will be rewarded: "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9). Always pray! Since the command to not lose heart applies to the Christian life in general, it applies to prayer in particular. That is, if we're not supposed to lose heart in general, then we're not supposed to lose heart in prayer. Indeed, as our verse for today says, we should pray always. What does this mean? It means we should have, for example, regular prayer times. It also means we should pray every time things go wrong and problems arise. And it means we should always maintain a spirit of prayer, we should always be ready to pray when necessary. Perhaps most importantly, it means we should keep praying for what we've been praying for even when our prayers are not answered as soon as we would like. The command "Don't lose heart" and the command "Always pray" are not just anybody's commands. They're Jesus' commands. Jesus doesn't want us to lose heart. Jesus want us to always pray. That's why He gave us the parable mentioned in our verse for today—the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:2-8). The widow kept asking for justice before a judge who did not fear God or man. Because of her persistence, however, he finally gave in and helped her. Jesus' point is if even unrighteous judges come through for persistent people, then how much more will our Heavenly Father come through for persistent people? Today, then, don't lose heart! Always pray! Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 23, 24 Jeremiah 23 -- I will restore to David a righteous Branch; False Prophets NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 24 -- Two Baskets of Figs; Captives Will Return NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Timothy 2 2 Timothy 2 -- Timothy Exhorted to be Strong, Persevering and Unashamed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.Insight Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. Challenge When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promise and provision. Don't let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 15:19 I have chosen you out of the world.Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace, or who cast them into the shade, miss the richest clusters of Eshcol; they lose the wines on the lees well refined, the fat things full of marrow. There is no balm in Gilead comparable to it. If the honey in Jonathan's wood when but touched enlightened the eyes, this is honey which will enlighten your heart to love and learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Eat, and fear not a surfeit; live upon this choice dainty, and fear not that it will be too delicate a diet. Meat from the King's table will hurt none of his courtiers. Desire to have your mind enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God. When you have mounted as high as election, tarry on its sister mount, the covenant of grace. Covenant engagements are the munitions of stupendous rock behind which we lie entrenched; covenant engagements with the surety, Christ Jesus, are the quiet resting-places of trembling spirits. "His oath, his covenant, his blood, Support me in the raging flood; When every earthly prop gives way, This still is all my strength and stay." If Jesus undertook to bring me to glory, and if the Father promised that he would give me to the Son to be a part of the infinite reward of the travail of his soul; then, my soul, till God himself shall be unfaithful, till Jesus shall cease to be the truth, thou art safe. When David danced before the ark, he told Michal that election made him do so. Come, my soul, exult before the God of grace and leap for joy of heart. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 59:16 And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.Psalm 40:6-8 Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. • Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. • I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." John 10:17,18 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. • "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." Isaiah 45:21,22 "Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. • "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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