不住禱告
路加福音十八章1至8節
1耶穌設一個比喻，是要人常常禱告，不可灰心。
2說：“某城裡有一個官，不懼怕 神，也不尊重世人。
3那城裡有個寡婦，常到他那裡，說：‘我有一個對頭，求你給我伸冤。’
4他多日不准。後來心裡說：‘我雖不懼怕 神，也不尊重世人，
5只因這寡婦煩擾我，我就給她伸冤吧，免得她常來纏磨我！’”
6主說：“你們聽這不義之官所說的話。
7神的選民晝夜呼籲他，他縱然為他們忍了多時，豈不終久給他們伸冤嗎？
8我告訴你們：要快快地給他們伸冤了。然而，人子來的時候，遇得見世上有信德嗎？”
信息分享
她很執著，但她的對頭也同樣執著，不住地煩擾她。那位對頭是否是她的債主，或是收稅人？還是謀算奪取她丈夫遺產的人？
寡婦通常都難有依靠，但那位審判官卻沒有體恤她的處境。也許，只有賄賂才管用。那麼，她最終如何獲得她所求的呢？就是單憑一顆堅持不懈的心。她不住哀求，直至那位審判官說：「好了，我答應妳的請求。」
主耶穌接著說：「一位不義的官，倘若也會因不住的哀求而答應，試想你們慈愛的天父會怎樣做了。祂可能要你們等候，以曉得你們懇求的心是恆切的，也是誠摯的。神必應允你們的不住祈求，快快給你們成就。」
「快快」這個詞並非表示你一呼求，神就立即答允。不錯，神有時的確會很快答允；但另一些時候，我們雖然是按著神的心意祈求，但神仍然是遲遲不回應。神究竟等甚麼呢？是祂的時間。當神的旨意與神的時間配合，神就會快快行動。你甚至會驚訝神竟然會那麼快便行動。
基督最後那句話十分有趣。他問了一個問題：「當我回來的時候，會找到這樣信心堅定、堅持禱告的人嗎？」
這是一個值得我們深思的問題。你會怎樣回答呢？假如基督今天再來，祂會看見你不住恆切禱告嗎？
KEEP ON PRAYING
Luke 18:1-8
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Message
She was a persistent woman, but there was another who was equally persistent. That was her adversary. Was he a debt collector? Or a tax-gatherer? Or perhaps someone who was trying to steal her late husband's land?
Being a widow she had little support and the judge was not impressed with her case. It could be that bribery was all that moved him. So how does she finally get what she wants? By sheer persistence. She came back time and time again until the judge said: 'All right I will do what you want'.
Our Lord went on to say: 'If a wicked human judge will respond like that, just think of what your loving heavenly Father will do. He may keep you waiting but it is only to be sure you are in earnest. God will answer your persistent prayers and he will do it quickly'.
The word 'quickly' may not mean that your first cry will be answered immediately. Sometimes it is. But there are times when we know God's will for a situation but the answer does not come. What is God waiting for? His timing. When God's will and God's time co-incide, he can act quickly. You might even be surprised how quickly and suddenly he does act.
Christ's final words are very interesting. He asks a question:
'When I come back, will I still find the same kind of persistent, faithful praying I am talking about?'.
That is quite a question. How would you answer it, realising the possibility of Christ coming today?