Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Luke 18:1-8
“And give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:7)
As time gets closer to Jesus’ coming, evil will increase, and Satan will continue to prevail. Faith will diminish, and Christians will be oppressed. Just take a look at society around us. A hundred years ago, faith was still a matter of public discussion. Now, those of faith are squandered and mocked by society. We live in evil times, and Satan reigns over the cities we live in. Where are the young people who fear the Lord? Why are orthodox churches void of youth? Who will continue the faith when all the old faithful saints pass? Has God forsaken us? Has He forgotten about His kingdom, which He is promised to establish?
In times like these, God is teaching us to pray. God is teaching His faithful few to pray earnestly without losing heart. Like the persistent widow who begged for justice before the unrighteous judge, God calls us to beg before Him for His kingdom to prevail over Satan. He invites us to pray for victory in the cosmic spiritual battle. He tells us to give Him no rest. He tells us to get on our knees until His kingdom is established before our eyes, until His chosen people are saved and sanctified, until His glory is displayed to all the earth. But, before this happens, God tells us to persevere in prayer, in wrestling with Him.
We must cry out day and night not because our prayers can sway God’s will. But, God has made prayer our duty, an exercise of our faith in Him, to which He has promised mercy. If the unrighteous judge gave justice to the widow because she became too much of a nuisance to Him, how much more will our righteous God give justice to His children if they persistently ask Him? Moreover, we ask not on our own account, but we have Christ’s intercession who prays God’s perfect will for us. God will answer in His time, and His kingdom will be established because that is His promise and will.
In all this, the question is, who are those who will struggle in prayer for God’s kingdom to come? Who will struggle with God to give them spiritual growth, not wavering until God answers, overcoming us with praise to Him? Who will wrestle with God for Gen-Z souls to return to Christ amid the spiritual drought amongst this generation? Who will hold on to God like Jacob until He gives blessing to us?
When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?
Lord, teach us to pray as You will. Give us faith and bring all of us into a personal struggle with You in prayer. Teach us to beg for Your will to be done, for Your kingdom to come. Forgive us, for we are far from You, still stuck in our sins and selfish ambitions. Win our souls for You and set us apart for Your Work. Teach us this ministry of prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.