A Widow Prayed
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
Never underestimate the power of spunk. Especially
when it turns to prayer.
A Widow Prayed
by Barry Newton
Each day as the sun would rise, its light would be
cast upon Jerusalem where an elderly godly widow
would spend time in prayer. As she would walk into
the temple court of the women, without a doubt
there were many who walked right past her whom
society considered important such as political
figures, religious leaders and certain business
personalities. Did they ever notice her? Did they
ever give a second thought to the widow who
prayed? God did.
One day as the eyes of this widow fell upon a
young mother carrying a baby boy, God revealed to
Anna that the child before her would be the one
who would bring redemption to Jerusalem. A widow
praised God. God noticed. A widow had prayed.
To teach his disciples why they should be
persistent in prayer, Jesus chose to tell a story
about another widow. It is a story which
underscores that God notices those who pray.
Jesus’ choice in selecting a widow was deliberate.
Those with deep pockets possess power to create
according to their desires. Political pundits can
shape public policy. Military leaders change
boundaries. But what could a widow do? What
resources does she have in a world where economic
and social tides are beyond her influence?
Jesus’ story was about a defenseless and seemingly
powerless widow who had suffered a wrong. The
particular powerful judge before whom she had to
take her case was not driven by fairness. His eyes
were elsewhere. To him the widow was merely a
nuisance to be ignored.
However, this widow was spunky and persistent. It
seemed that every time the judge turned around her
penetrating old brown eyes were requesting justice
once again.
The judge was a bit slow, but even he learned that
this old woman would wear him out if he did not
take care of her case. In contrasting that
unrighteous judge who finally responded with the
greater responsiveness of our God driven by
righteousness, Jesus said, “Will not God bring
about justice for his chosen ones who cry out day
and night?”
So you don’t feel powerful? You ask, “Who am I and
what can I do?” You can pray, pray, pray, pray.
God notices. The prayer of a righteous person is
powerful.
Prayer takes faith. It takes confidence that God
exists and that he rewards those who diligently
seek him. And so Jesus ended his story of the
widow with the haunting question, “When the Son of
Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” God
notices those who pray.
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