Nevertheless She Persisted

2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" (Luke 18:2-5)

Was Jesus really saying that we need to badger God in order to expect a response? While this story is about persistent prayer, there may be a double meaning. Perhaps it's God - who regularly identifies with the downtrodden - who's really represented as the widow and we are the unrighteous judge. As God pleads with us to live justly we have the opportunity to lay aside our selfish ways and be remade into the image of our persistently loving God.

However anyone may feel about Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Maxine Waters, they are undeniable examples of persistence against an opponent. When denied the time to finish reading a letter by Coretta Scott King, Sen. Warren took to Facebook Live to read the letter in it's entirety - likely being heard by far more people than if she had not been interrupted. Rep. Waters refused to allow her opponent to run out the clock on her questioning with the meme worthy phrase "Reclaiming my time". Perhaps the call to pray unceasing is God's attempt to reclaim time and place as Lord of our lives. By God's grace we can be transformed from unjust legalism to humbly persistent seekers of justice for all. In turn, this realignment of focus and priorities opens our eyes to God's continual response to the desires of our hearts.

7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:7-8)