Why Love's the Only House Big Enough for All the Pain in the World

CONSECRATE Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.  Jesus, I belong to you. I lift up my heart to you. I set my mind on you. I fix my eyes on you. I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice. Jesus, we belong to you.  Praying in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.  HEAR Luke 18:1–8 ESV And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” CONSIDER Rarely do you get Jesus giving a parable and telling you what it's about and why he's telling you up front. This is the second story Jesus tells us along these lines to help us understand the complex assignment of bringing the extraordinary realities of heaven to the everyday dumpster fire of earth. Remember the post entitled, "Love Is a Battlefield" a week or so back? Well, consider this one song #2 on that playlist.  And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 1. In your life of prayer—because of the fallen brokenness of all creation—it will often feel like God is not listening, does not care, will not answer, and is otherwise like an unjust judge. Concerning God, nothing could be further from the truth. The one, true, living God of heaven and earth listens intently, cares deeply, is just in all his ways, and ultimately answers. He carries your concerns.  Therefore, always pray and do not lose heart.  2. In your life of prayer—because of the fallen brokenness of all creation—it will often feel like you are a helpless, powerless widow who has no standing in the court while you carry unbearable burdens that often are unthinkable injustices. Concerning you, nothing could be further from the truth. You are an unbelievable, inconceivable, unrepeatable miracle of God who is a much loved son or daughter of an adoring Father who just so happens to be the the Righteous Judge of all reality—and you carry his authority.  Therefore, always pray and do not lose heart.  3. If an unrighteous, unjust judge will finally grant justice because of the unrelenting, persevering pleading of a powerless widow—just to get her out of his courtroom—how much more will the one, true, living God of heaven and earth grant justice to his chosen ones who always pray and never give up?  Therefore, always pray and do not lose heart.  Now watch the brilliant dismount of Jesus from this extraordinary parable of perseverance. "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Remember, faith is the currency of the kingdom of God—on earth as it is in heaven. Faith is the mountain-moving movement bringing heaven to earth. It is the costly movement of love across the battlefield of this world. It brings to mind a song from the Prophet Queen of Country Music, Martina Mcbride. The title says it all. "Love's the Only House Big Enough for All the Pain in the World."  Could it be this is why Jesus made it clear that his Father's house is a house of prayer?  Therefore, always pray and do not lose heart.  PRAY Lord Jesus, you are the gospel. And you are building us into your house of love, which starts as a house of prayer and catches fire to become a house of love—indeed the only house big enough for all the pain in the world. Make us the doorkeepers in your house of love and the servants who go down every highway and byway inviting and compelling people to come and fill up your house. Thank you for this story today, which tells us the truth in love. Bring us deeper into this story. It will be for your glory, for others' gain, and for our good. Praying in your name, Jesus, amen.