October 20th Reflection - It's Time... Now! - by Bill Lynch

Luke 18:1–8
The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

Reflection
If we are in a journey, a walk, a life with God; wouldn't we come to him and talk every day, several times a day? For times, wouldn't we be in a conversation for hours with God? Many people today seem to only listen to God or even come to God once a week. Many people are even lax with this. If so, how can we claim to be God's disciples? How can we claim to know and receive Jesus as our Savior? How can we even begin to make this statement? How can those who see us begin to believe that when we say we believe in Jesus and his saving grace that any of that can hold any truth to it? Really! If we believe we have been saved, shouldn't we WANT to be with God at all times? Wouldn't we, on our own, come to Jesus, even run to Jesus to be with him? Wouldn't we at least seek the guidance of the Spirit more than every once and a while? What kind of response to God's presence do we show to all of the world?

If this be the case with you, perhaps you should spend some time in Scripture, perhaps you should stop and pray to God for guidance, perhaps you should evaluate your position and make sure that you are not just saying a bunch of words that are meaningless when you proclaim belief in Jesus. Perhaps you need God after all.

We all need God. We all turn to God and run to God. We all, one day, need to deal with what God has shown us in flesh and in spirit. We all need to deal with our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The time is now for all of us. The time is always now. The time to be with God is in the here and the now and in eternity. Our very existence depends on our presence with God. Without God we don't even exist. Turn and run to God. Turn and pray. Turn and seek God in the words of Scripture, in the Word made flesh, in the bread and wine and the body and blood of Jesus, in the waters of baptism. Turn to God, the source of life... NOW!

Turn to God now and always and forever. Hear God's call and respond! For, Jesus is coming and will come again in glory and set all things under him. The time is now.

Prayer
I see the persistence of the widow and likewise turn to you to walk in your will and your way. May all the world proclaim your glory and live your love and realize your salvation... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen