God Speaks
Various Examples of Persistence, Humility and Faith
Verse of the Day: [Jesus said this as the point of a story,] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a siinner,’ I tell you this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who justify themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: The parable of the persistent widow is meant to illustrate and model the need to be persistent in making our requests to God. The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector draws attention to the need to be humble and not rely on our own righteousness. Jesus told His disciples, “Let the children come to me.” This was because children start out trusting and relying on others to take care of them. We need to develop child-like trust and obedience to the Lord. The rich ruler epitomizes those who rely on their own “goodness” and riches to obtain eternal life. Jesus corrected him saying only God is truly good and to release his hold on riches (rather riches’ hold on him). Although the disciples didn’t understand, Jesus again foretold of His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. A blind beggar from Jericho received his sight because he knew who Jesus was and trusted Him, bringing praise to God.
Prayer: Dear gracious God, thank You that You really care about individual people and their problems as well as how those in positions of authority treat Your people. Thank you for teaching Your followers to continue to pray and never give up. Help me to be like that widow. Unlike that judge, You deserve great honor and respect, and You readily dispense justice to all Your chosen people who cry out to You. The Pharisee in this story represents all of us who put our trust in ourselves instead of in You. Like the tax collector, we should acknowledge our sinful neediness and cry out to You for mercy. Help me to trust and obey You like a loving child. Lord, it is impossible for me to release the hold that needing to be right and focusing on the things of this world have on me. But it is possible for You to do so as I yield to the Holy Spirit. Thank You that the rewards may be experienced both in this current world and in eternity with You. Thank You for helping me grow in understanding and applying the meaning and purpose of Your suffering, death, and resurrection. Please help me understand the predictions of Jesus’s second coming and eternal rule as well. Like that blind beggar, I want to grow in knowing You, seeing You work in and through me, and in bringing You praise, honor, and glory. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will pray daily for the salvation and spiritual growth of my family members. I will not give up.
- I will ask the Lord to show me where I have been relying on my own “goodness” and not on Him, and I will repent.
- I will spend time observing children and imitate their trust and obedience in my relationship with God.
- I will remind myself of Jesus’s return and eternal rule by telling others about Him.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with _______________________.