Steadfast Persistence
by Zeke Flores
Luke 11 includes an event in which Jesus' disciples ask Him to teach them to pray. He instructs them in what we commonly call the Lord's prayer (although technically, it's the disciples' prayer since Jesus taught it to them) and follows it up with the famous saying about asking, seeking, and knocking. Many have pointed out that the verb tense for those words indicates continuous action—keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking—and for good reason. The whole of Christian life is about steadfast persistence, to "keep on keeping on," as it were.
In the text, Jesus spoke of the benefits of such persistence (Luke 11:10-13). Certainly, Christians ought to be steadfast, persistent people in prayer, in Bible study, in evangelism, in doing good, and so on. We must be, for Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22).
While it sounds like an impossible task, there are two promises in that blessing:
- There will be an end. Someday, all of our striving and effort will have reached its final fruition, and
- The reward is full and final salvation, and we should never fear the temptation of sin again.
So, keep on keeping on!
"For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened" (Luke 11:10).
