A Reflection on Luke 18

Luke 18 is rich with multiple topics and stories to find encouragement from. Today, I will take the opportunity to reflect on a few of my favorite sets of scriptures that gives me encouragement. The first set of scriptures, verses 1-8 titled in the NIV: “Parable of the Persistent Widow.” In these verses, we see a judge who “neither feared God nor cared what people thought.” The widow relentlessly petitioned the judge for justice and even though he didn’t fear God or care about what people thought of him, he granted her request because he feared she would eventually turn on him.  

I find it extremely encouraging that Jesus states that anyone who cries out to him day and night will be heard. His last statement is very intriguing:”However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” I like how Jesus asks this question; I feel it rhetorically asks the crowd if they have faith? Please skip down with me to verses 35-43 to the story titled “A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight.” We read about Jesus and the disciples on their way to Jericho and a blind beggar along the road hears that Jesus is coming and he cries out to Jesus for help. The crowd rebukes him and tells him to be quiet, he continues to persistently call for Jesus and Jesus hears him and asks him what He can do for him? The beggar requests that his sight is restored. Jesus in turn heals him and in verse 42 says, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” We see the blind man persistently asking Jesus for help, Jesus hears him and his FAITH is what Jesus says healed the blind man. Now tying that back to the persistent widow…Jesus asked will I find faith when I return? We see that when we have faith, Jesus moves in powerful ways…Jesus is looking for his disciples to have faith in Him!

Lastly, one of my favorite stories about Godly sorrow, grace and forgiveness is found in the story titled, “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.” In verses 9-14 we read about 2 very different men who approach God, one a Pharisee, very self-righteous, very proud of his righteous acts but shows no heart for God and is rude to his fellow man. Then we see the tax collector: he was a sinner, had godly sorrow and could not even look up to heaven but rather beat his chest.  Jesus says that the tax collector left justified before God because he humbled himself and the Pharisee exalted himself, but received no justification.  

Personally, I love this story because I blow it every day. I’ve never had a sinless day though I try to hold myself to that standard, but fail. However, I see that if I humble myself before the cross, have godly sorry, ask Jesus to forgive me, He will forgive me and His blood will wash me whiter than snow and I too will be justified in God’s eyes.  

Please remember today that Jesus hears you, He loves you, wants you to pray to Him and He loves a faithful, humble disciple, that recognizes He is the only way to the Father! Have an awesome day knowing you are dearly loved by God!