#1228. When the Son of Man comes (14/2/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. (At present, I'm only posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)

From Luke 18:1-8, true faith is seen in faithful and persistent prayer because faith believes in God and His promises.

Luke 18:1–8

You can listen to this devotional below (It’s also available on Spotify on the Community Church Putney podcast)

https://youtu.be/zEPOne2OAOo

‘Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 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.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”’ (Luke 18:1-8)

Luke 18:1–8

Jesus concludes the Parable of the Persistent Widow with a striking and thought-provoking question: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” This question is meant to challenge us. If Jesus were to return today, what would He find in your faith? Are you actively watching and waiting for His return? Are you faithfully serving Him? Most importantly, within the context of this parable, will He find you praying? Our faith is most vividly demonstrated through the way we pray.

Prayer is a defining mark of a Christian. While many things characterise a believer, prayer stands as one of the most vital fruits of salvation. Genuine faith in Jesus is evident in our communion with Him through prayer. If we claim to trust Jesus as our Lord and Saviour but neglect to speak to Him, worship Him, or seek His help, we must ask ourselves: Is our profession of faith truly authentic?

‘The infallible test of spiritual integrity, Jesus says, is your private prayer life. Many people will pray when they are required by cultural or social expectations, or perhaps by the anxiety caused by troubling circumstances. Those with a genuinely lived relationship with God as Father, however, will inwardly want to pray and therefore will pray even though nothing on the outside is pressing them to do so. They pursue it even during times of spiritual dryness, when there is no social or experiential payoff.’ (Keller, Timothy. Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God)

Are we like this persistent widow for specific things?

Are we praying for specific things with persistence? Are there specific things that we are crying out for? We may presume that, if I’ve asked God once, He’ll remember and do as He sees fit, why keep on about it? Now, whilst this is often the case, we are to persistently ask for the same thing when we feel burdened. This is why, for example, Matthew records that Jesus, in The Garden of Gethsemane, prayed three times:

‘“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”’ (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44)

Matthew 26:39

Are we like this persistent widow and praying generally?

Added to praying for specific things, are we praying, generally, with persistence. Are we coming to God each day in a well-formed prayer habit? Are we praying with the church persistently? How about with our friends and family? This parable is, I’m sure, needed in every generation, however, It feels like the pressure and busyness of life has caused many to relegate prayer and praying with the church to a low place on their priorities. May I end by asking you a provoking question? Is your message of grace - salvation without good works - freeing you from prayer or freeing you to pray? Freeing you to seek God with all of your heart, or to neglect seeking God?

Let’s pray together as we finish

“Lord Jesus, if you were to come today, may you find me awake and prayerful. Forgive me that, too often, like your disciples in the garden when you asked them to ‘keep watch and pray’, I’ve fallen asleep. Thank you for reminding me to pray faithfully. Help me to be obedient to your will. Amen.”