Devotion for Today "Sucker Thief" Luke 18
Once we had the opportunity to interface with people who lived on the various Army
posts in
the American Legion, various universities and colleges, recreation groups, etc.
People would pass displays set up on tables as representatives would introduce themselves
and hand out literature promoting their organizations.
My wife thought it would be good to place lollipops (the kind with the chocolate
center) on the table next to our church's brochure. This would attract attention
and promote conversation, she said, and she was right. I was grateful for
the contacts that were made. Several children were there, and they dragged
their parents over to the table and asked if they could have a sucker. This was
working quite well until a cute little four year old boy with glasses came
over not once, not twice, not even three times, but I think I lost count after
about the ninth opportunity he siezed to snatch my diminishing supply of tootsiepops
from the table. My bucket of suckers was depleting fast and what should I
do? Besides, I could tell that this sweet little child was about to
overdose on sugar. I was sure that his parents would not appreciate the sucker supplier
very much as the evening wore on. When I saw him coming, I tried to hide
them. But the little eyes under those round wire rimmed specks spied them
immediately, which evoked many questions, "Hey, where's the suckers. Can I
have a sucker? I want another sucker! Gimmee a sucker, please!" What were
we to do? . The sugar high had kicked into high gear which could have
provoked a full blown tantrum which would have given adverse publicity to not just
our organization but to the entire event. I gave him another sucker!
I had to admire his tenacity and determination. Besides, who could deny
such a sweet little face!
Later on, I found out who this little boy was. He was the young son of the
colonel who commands our local army post!
Our Lord Jesus told a parable about such a situation in Luke 18. The
comparisions do not run too deeply. However, the parable is about a widow
who had a case that needed heard by a judge. Her need for vindication from
her adversary was relentless, and she would persist and prevail upon the
judge until she got what she wanted. This woman was a widow. She had few
financial resources and her prestige before that judge was not very great.
She had no influential lawyers to represent her or prominent persons to vouch
for her. All this widow had was her persistence, and her voice, to get what she
needed. This was what it took to get the judge's attention. This judge had
a reputation for not being very scrupulous, nor did he care what people
thought about it. One thing he did understand, however, was that if he put this
widow off with an excuse or with a delay, she would be back. Better to just go
ahead and give the widow what she wanted.
Jesus tells us, however, that our God is not like that judge. He looks
for opportunities to serve us and to listen to our cries. "And shall God
not avenge His own elect who cry ot day and night to Him, though He bears long
with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." God stands ready
to hear us and to help us. But our persistence is valuable, not that we
will wear God down by our asking or manipulate Him in any way, but that we will
understand the seriousness of our need and to define our concerns very
carefully to Him.
What concerns do you have that you feel compelled to take to the Lord today? Be
sure that He wants to hear about them tomorrow, and the next day as well. Know that
He always stands ready to grant what we need. Jesus also said in Matthew 7:11
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how
much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
Him?"
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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