6 March - Luke 18

Today we are reading Luke 18 in the Tattoo Church Reading Plan. Here are three take aways for todays reading:

1. In the first parable Jesus tells us about a widow who keeps coming before a judge in order to be heard and is turned away every time. Eventually, the widow wears the judge out and he gives her what she is asking for. Jesus says if this unjust judge acted on her behalf how; how much more would our God bring about justice for those who follow him? 
2. Then Luke recorded another parable (story with a lesson) Jesus told about two guy’s prayers. The first was a religious leader who prayed about himself and looked down on other people around him. The second was a tax collector who humbly prayed and asked God for mercy. Jesus said only the tax collector went home having restored his relationship with God.
3. Then we read about Jesus’ disciples not letting little children come to Jesus. Sounds mean but they simply thought he was too important to be bothered by kids. But Jesus said to let them in and talked about how children have faith and so should we.

In the first story about the widow Jesus is not saying if you keep asking God eventually you will wear him out and he will do what you want. Jesus is saying God wants to act on your behalf and so we should keep asking for his guidance and help. Jesus made the point if a man would eventually help someone he didn’t want to then God would certainly help us since he wants to. 

You read about these people called “tax collectors” a lot in the Bible and they are always looked down on. Have you ever wondered why? During the time Jesus, the Jewish people were under Roman rule and so had to pay taxes to the government. The tax collectors were often Jewish people who collected money for the Roman government. However, it was a common practice for tax collectors to charge extra fees that they would pocket. Hence the Jews hated these tax collectors because the considered them traitors and thieves who took advantage of their own people for money.

When you pray and ask God for his guidance or help do you only pray once? Jesus says a lot that we should keep talking to God and letting him know what’s going on in our lives. Obviously he already knows, but isn’t it cool that God wants to be involved in your life? Do you have a difficult time believing God wants to be involved in the details of your life? If so ask God to help you have a closer relationship with him.