Saturday after Reminiscere Sunday

Scripture: St. Luke 18:1-8 (NKJV)

18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Devotion

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

The context around our Lord’s rhetorical question shows that hypocrites and false teachers were listening to His preaching. In spite of pious appearances, these people despised what Jesus had to say. Our Lord’s words were another call to repentance. The Pharisees and others tried to appear faithful and righteous, they seemed just and noble in their works and words, but the Lord’s truth showed that these people were unfaithful.

Those who cause offense in the name of God continue to be very active in our time. Many people want to give the appearance of faith and piety. They perform works in the name of Jesus that seem good. But when a pastor who has faithfully and humbly searched the Scriptures declares that sin is sin, it is common for hypocrites to condemn him and dismiss him as hateful. “You don’t know what’s in my heart! How dare you assume and judge as though you are God!”

Our Lord’s parable teaches the faithful saints to pray and not lose heart according to the patience and humility that His Spirit works in us. Praying always also includes repenting always! Whether we are praying the Lord’s Prayer or using other words and sighs, real faith makes us come to our Father humbly saying always, “Thy will be done…, forgive us our trespasses…,” in addition to all our other petitions.

Prayer: O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.