Fri, Sep 26, 2008
Say Again?
In this parable, Jesus underscores the importance of repetition in prayer. Though we are warned against "vain repetition"--repeating empty words over and over again--we are encouraged to meaningful repetion.
Here Jesus uses the illustration of a woman who is seeking justice. Whatever injustice she had suffered she could not get over it. Her injustice was continually on her mind, so she continually pleaded her case before this judge. Jesus encourages us to do the same thing. He knows that there will be issues in life that distract us to the place that we can think of little else. We should take those issues to our heavenly Father each time they come up in our mind. This is not empty repetition, it is meaningful repetition.
We also see instances in the early church where they prayed for each other. There was a prayer meeting the night that Peter was imprisoned and awaiting execution. Though there is no record of who prayed what, it is safe to assume that all prayed for Peter's release. Vain repetion? No. That group of believers had gathered because they were burdened to pray for Peter's release--a meaningful repetion.
James 5:16 encourages us to pray for each other. He specifically says our prayer should be effective and fervent--or heated. fervent prayers are impassioned, repetitive pleas to God. Vain repetion? No. fervent prayers are meaningful repetion.
While there is much more that could be seen in and said about this parable, the important element for us to see is that when it comes to praying, we sometimes, often even, need to say again.
Here Jesus uses the illustration of a woman who is seeking justice. Whatever injustice she had suffered she could not get over it. Her injustice was continually on her mind, so she continually pleaded her case before this judge. Jesus encourages us to do the same thing. He knows that there will be issues in life that distract us to the place that we can think of little else. We should take those issues to our heavenly Father each time they come up in our mind. This is not empty repetition, it is meaningful repetition.
We also see instances in the early church where they prayed for each other. There was a prayer meeting the night that Peter was imprisoned and awaiting execution. Though there is no record of who prayed what, it is safe to assume that all prayed for Peter's release. Vain repetion? No. That group of believers had gathered because they were burdened to pray for Peter's release--a meaningful repetion.
James 5:16 encourages us to pray for each other. He specifically says our prayer should be effective and fervent--or heated. fervent prayers are impassioned, repetitive pleas to God. Vain repetion? No. fervent prayers are meaningful repetion.
While there is much more that could be seen in and said about this parable, the important element for us to see is that when it comes to praying, we sometimes, often even, need to say again.