Do you pray? Do you understand prayer as a request, a petition, a supplication? It is asking for a favor. These are familiar concepts for you and you are most receptive to receiving them yourself if they are offered in respectful humility. Yet my word speaks of fervent prayer. How does fervency fit with the above concepts? Does this appear to be a mismatch? I told the story of the importunate widow to illustrate this. The widow was dependent on the unjust judge for justice, but she would not be denied.

Do you know that I attended church? At least I did until one day it was my turn to read from the scriptures. This was not well received. I went on to point out examples from the same scriptures of how the favor of God was poured out on those outside of my Jewish tradition. I portrayed the love of God toward everyone and as a result wore out my welcome and never went back. This was the beginning of my independent ministry to the common people and outsiders. Churches have identity and character, one aspect of which is how they view the love of God toward those without.

Do you consider yourself to be judgmental? There are plenty of verses in the Bible that say you should not be. What is the default position of humanity? Does it take discipline and effort to be judgmental, or not to? Have you ever found your mind making assumptions and drawing conclusions about others when you didn’t have sufficient information to do so? Do you find it easy to categorize those who are not like you? Does your mind seem to go here without any effort on your part? Have you found that it takes deliberate focus and intention to avoid entering into judgment? Make the effort.

Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever had a problem or been in a situation and felt that you were the only one with this affliction? Did this make it difficult to discuss with others? Has the unbearable pain of this caused you to push ahead and find a confidant? Were you glad you did? It is likely that you found someone facing the same struggle but even if you didn’t, you may still have found a sympathetic audience. The great struggles of humanity are not unique to you. Do you confess your faults to one another that you may be healed? It is restorative to know that you are not alone.