Luke 18:1-8

content/bible_journal/luke_18:1-8.md

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+title = "Luke 18:1–8"
+date = "2023-01-11"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk18.1-8)
+
+Having just mentioned the end of the age, Jesus turns to the subject of
+persistent prayer. This might seem unrelated, but we are to pray for Jesus's
+return all the time and trust that it will happen, even when it seems that evil
+men triumph in the world. To illustrate His point, He tells the story of a
+widow who asks for justice from a judge who doesn't care about what God wants
+or how he should treat other people. At first, he refuses to grant her justice,
+but eventually he relents.
+
+Because even an unrighteous judge does eventually do the right thing because a
+widow continues to bother him about it, then we can expect that God, who is
+perfectly just and righteous, will do right by those He has chosen. Because He
+is perfect, He will grant justice in His timing, not when we think we should
+get it. But even when He delays, we should keep asking for it in the
+expectation that He will give it to us. Evil may abound in the world, but
+justice and wrath are coming and will wipe it all away forever.
+
+The last question Jesus poses in this section is meant to be meditative, rather
+than something we should try to answer in general. When He comes back, if He
+came today, would He find faith in _your_ heart? Have you been seeking to speed
+His return? (See 2 Peter 3:11–12.) Have you been persistent and tenacious in
+studying His Word and following His commands, knowing for certain He will come
+back one day?
+
+* * *
+
+Put faith in our hearts that endures to the end.