Holy Persistence

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Fall Stewardship Series – Week 2
Luke 18:1-8
October 19, 2025
“Holy Persistence”

Francine the cat is something of a local celebrity in Richmond, Virginia. She makes her home at a Lowe’s store, where she’s lived for eight years. Store employees look after her, and people from the area and beyond come by just to see her. But last month in mid-September, Francine went missing for several weeks, and no one could find her. Thermal drones, professional trackers, and video surveillance were all used in efforts to locate her. It finally became clear that Francine hopped a delivery truck that went to a Lowe’s distribution center eighty-five miles away from Richmond. After putting out humane traps for her, monitoring camera footage at the distribution center, and even bringing in her favorite food and dish, Francine was finally captured safely inside one of the humane traps. Staff members from the Lowe’s store in Richmond were overjoyed. Their persistence paid off as Francine was brought home and reunited with her people on October 6. The store manager said: “We care for Francine so much, and we’re so thankful for everyone who helped, from our associates to animal control and our neighbors… She’s more than our store cat – she’s part of our family” (Francine the cat is found, returned home to Richmond Lowe's). We see persistence in today’s Gospel lesson in the parable which Jesus tells regarding the widow who would not give up on her cause for justice. Jesus’ parable becomes the basis for preaching today as our Fall Stewardship series continues under the theme “Holy Persistence.” May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

One of the lessons that we must learn in life as well as in faith is persistence; not to give up, but to press on despite challenges and obstacles. Jesus’ parable of the widow and the unjust judge speaks of this. Clearly, the widow did not have much on her side except to persist day in and day out to get what she wanted from the judge: justice against her adversary. From this, the Lord Jesus calls on his followers likewise to be persistent in prayer as we cry out in faith to God day in and day out. So often in prayer, when we do not receive what we have asked for, we simply give up. There is an acronym here that calls us to holy persistence: PUSH, Pray Until Something Happens. In faith, we persist in prayer until God in his wisdom grants something to happen. And that something may well not be on our timetable or according to our schedule. In fact, God in his wisdom may give us something very different than what we prayed for because what we prayed for is not going to be what is best for us. When it comes to prayer, it’s like a traffic light: God’s answer to our prayer may also be a red light: no. Whatever our prayer request is, it is not what God would have for us. Or we may get the yellow, or amber, light: slow. God’s answer to our prayer is that now is not the right time for granting our prayer. Or we may get the green light, which means “Go.” God gives the go-ahead and graciously grants our prayer because it honors the Lord, serves his good purpose, and truly is what is best for us. Both the yellow and red lights – slow and no – are answers that we don’t want to hear. This is where the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer – the most challenging of all the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, in my opinion – comes before us: “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10). As Jesus submitted himself to the Father’ will in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42), so we also submit ourselves and our prayer requests to the Lord, trusting that he will do for his beloved children what he knows to be best. God is not like that unjust judge in the parable who finally caved in because he just wanted to get rid of that pesky widow. God doesn’t cave in to our prayer requests because we’re pestering him so much and he just wants to get rid of us. That’s not the kind of God we have. We have a God who has created us in his own image; who sent his only begotten Son into human flesh to be born, to live, to suffer, die and rise again in order to redeem us from sin and death. We have a God who loves us with an everlasting love and will carry us from death to everlasting life.

Because of all that God in Christ has done for us, we persist in prayer, in faith, in love. We see this holy persistence in today’s Old Testament lesson as Jacob wrestles with the Lord God (Genesis 32:22-30) in order to obtain his blessing. In today’s Epistle lesson (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5), Paul the apostle encourages the young pastor, Timothy, to holy persistence in that opening verse: “ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). And so we also are encouraged to persevere in faith; to holy persistence.  

This is week two of our fall stewardship series, “Whatever You Do,” which flows out of that theme verse from Scripture: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Like those first disciples, who “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42), we do the same as modern-day disciples. In faith, our congregation persists in gathering for worship around God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament. We persist in coming together for Bible study, fellowship, and service, not because we have to, but because we want to. The motivation is based on all that God in Christ has done for us. And so we understand that what we are and have is not our own, but all comes from a gracious and loving God.

As we consider stewardship of God’s gifts in the life of our congregation, the holy persistence of God’s people in bringing offerings and tithes to support mission and ministry is essential. This is the work, not of a few, but of everyone – the whole Body of Christ. We do not contribute offerings and tithes at the same level. It’s not about equal giving, but sacrificial giving, all in response to the sacrifice of Christ for us and for our salvation. This stewardship series is happening in the midst of the government shutdown. Many are feeling the impact of this, and there is much uncertainty. Now more than ever, we need the support and encouragement of one another. With holy persistence we press on, trusting that the Lord will provide; that he make a way where there seems to be no way. In the week ahead, a letter will go out to the congregation, and included in this will be an estimate of giving card for next year. Please give this your prayerful attention and with the Spirit’s guidance determine what you are able to do. Next Sunday on the Festival of the Reformation, we will bring our estimate of giving cards forward to the altar as an act of worship, and dedicate these to the Lord for his kingdom work.

With holy persistence and thankful hearts, we carry that Word of God with us: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Amen.