Luke 18:1-14
Tuesday, 19 December 2023
“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" -Luke 18:7-8
In our reading today, Jesus talks about the importance of enduring in prayer about our needs. He shares how an unrighteous judge finally gave a woman justice, not because he was a just judge, but because she persevered and did not lose faith. Jesus said that if an unrighteous judge will give justice, how much more the God of righteousness answer the cries of His people!
Jesus assured his disciples that God will bring justice for His elect but asks them an astounding question, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Today Jesus is asking us the same question. When He comes back one day to the earth, will He find His church, you and me putting our trust in Jesus and His Word or will He find you and me as compromisers relying on the world to meet our needs and would we be conformed to the standards of this world?
Do we have true faith in Him? Let us examine ourselves to see if we truly trust in Him to provide us our needs, heal us of our sicknesses, to strengthen us to fulfill our calling here on earth for Him. To have faith in Jesus means to make a willful decision to believe that Jesus loves you and will provide you with what you need, not necessarily all that you want. The Word of God reminds us today, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21).
Do we have the heart of Christ in us? Are we reaching out to the lost, hurting and the hopeless? If we are not doing so, it is because we have no faith in God’s endless goodness—our focus is not the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but storing up treasures on earth that we cannot carry on to heaven. What we do here on this earth in this transitory period will determine what kind of life we will have in eternity.
The Word of God clearly warns us of falling away from the faith. In Matthew 24:12, He said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of may will grow cold.” We see it happening in these times -a falling away from true faith in God. Let us take time to evaluate ourselves, to see the true condition of our hearts today. If the Holy Spirit reminds us of any iniquity, lack of love or lack of faith in our lives, let us repent and turn back to the first love we had for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That helps us make the decision to grow in our faith in Him, be in continual fellowship with Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives here on earth.
Do we have faith and are we living a life that on the day our Saviour comes back again to take home His elect, you and I would hear His voice, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:23)?
To Act on: Let us make every effort to work out our salvation with fear and trembling every day, focused on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith! Amen.