(Warren E. Berkley)

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8)

As this parable is introduced, we are specifically told the point: "that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." When I look at that phrase I see a choice - either pray or lose heart. If I pray as Jesus taught I should, in His name and with an obedient faith that guides my life daily, I will not lose heart! To express the other end of this, if I lose heart I must not be praying in the manner taught by Christ. Which will it be? Will you pray or lose heart? In the story, Jesus gives a reason why we should always pray.

His story involves three parties: a judge, a widow and an adversary . There was this judge who "did not fear God nor regard man." We know there were such men in Palestine then, and we believe there are such men in positions of judicial authority today. They have the position, but they do not have the godly character, compassion and sense of justice that should qualify a man to be a judge. Jesus says that this man "did not fear God nor regard man."

The widow came to the judge to plea for relief from her adversary. The Lord said that "for a while" the judge would not respond; he would not do anything. Then the judge thought, "this widow really annoys me. Although I don't fear God or respect people, I'll have to give her justice. Otherwise, she'll keep coming to me until she wears me out."

Jesus calls attention to what the unjust judge said. Then He said, "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Some who have read this parable get stuck on a supposed comparison between the evil judge and God. Jesus does not say that God is like the unjust judge. The point is, if an evil judge will eventually gives relief to those who appeal to him, how much more will God (who is perfectly just) give relief to His own elect! This is like the teaching of Christ earlier (in Luke 11:1-13, note the expression "how much more"). God's people should always pray and not "give up" or "lose heart" because we are appealing to a perfectly just and righteous Judge. One way faith expresses itself is in the persistent, fervent practice of prayer.

Prayer should not be like a "fire extinguisher." This equipment hangs on the wall and you may pay little attention to it until there is an emergency. Then you want it! Some treat prayer the same way. If there is no "emergency" in life, they don't use it. But in time of crisis they want God to listen and respond at once! The teaching of Christ is exceedingly plain - we ought to pray regularly, "always," knowing that God is perfectly just and will answer according to His wisdom.

(Selected)

Three men were tried for crimes against humanity. Two men committed crimes. One man did not.

Three men were given government trials. Two men had fair trials. One man did not.

Three men were whipped and beaten. Two men had it coming. One man did not.

Three men were given crosses to carry. Two men earned their crosses. One man did not.

Three men were mocked and spit at along the way. Two men cursed and spit back. One man did not.

Three men were nailed to crosses. Two men deserved it. One man did not.

Three men talked while they were hung on their crosses. Two men argued. One man did not.

Three men agonized over their abandonment. Two men had reason to be abandoned. One man did not.

Three men knew death was coming. Two men resisted. One man did not.

One. Two. Three men died on three crosses. Three days later. Two men remained in their graves. One man did not.

(Selected)

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. (Malachi 3:3)

One lady proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver.

After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you know the process is complete?"

"Why that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished." God wants us to be a reflection of his love.

(Poem)

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door and heard the anvil ring the vesper chime:

Then looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I, "to wear and batter all these hammers so?"

"Just one," said he, and then with twinkling eyes, "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so, thought I, the anvil of God's word, for ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard, the anvil is unharmed . . . the hammers are gone.

(To be read as if it was a chain letter)

The result of a computerized survey indicate the perfect evangelist preaches exactly 15 minutes. He condemns sin but never upsets anyone. He works from 8 a.m. until midnight and is also a janitor.

He makes $50 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $50 weekly to the poor. He is 28 years old and has been preaching 30 years.

He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all his time with senior citizens. The perfect evangelist smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work.

He makes 15 calls daily on families of the congregation, shut-ins, and the hospitalized. He spends all of his time evangelizing and is always in his office when needed.

If your evangelist does not measure up, simply send this letter to six other congregations that are tired of their evangelist, too. Then bundle up your evangelist and send him to the church at the top of the list. In one week, you will receive 1,643 evangelists and one of them should be perfect. Have faith in this letter. One church broke the chain and got its old evangelist back in less than three weeks.