耶穌定晴在耶路撒冷，希望在此發生的重大事蹟能完成祂在地上的服事，同時祂加強對門徒的訓練，今天的經文在四福音中，惟有在路加福音才能找到。不義的管家是一個重點，因為基督馬上就要將寶貴的福音信息托付給眾門徒，祂略述了僕人的責任之後，就以十個大痲瘋的比喻提出祂的教導，最後，耶穌強調恆久、謙卑禱告的重要，這可從被惡待的寡婦（路18：1-8）及悔改的稅吏（路18：9-14）這兩個比喻看出來。

        「禱告是基督徒屬靈狀況的氣壓計」，如果這話是真的，那麼你今天的氣壓如何？
        請咀嚼這段意義深遠的經文：「耶穌設一個比喻，是要人常常禱告，不可灰心」（路18：1），後來這個恆切禱告的寡婦怎麼樣？這是一個針對已經灰心了的門徒的比喻！你是否也灰心了！你是否已在你的禱告裡麻木了？或是還在恆切的禱告？
        禱告無疑是一件艱困的工作，這就是為什麼維持積極的禱告生活那麼不容易，而必須日復一日，貫徹始終的努力。禱告不容易的另一個原因是，這是撒旦最最不樂意見到你從事的活動，藉著禱告你會從上帝得到指引和供應；藉著禱告上帝使你成為祂能力的出口。如果耶穌需要禱告，如果耶穌告誡門徒需要常常禱告，那麼你呢？立刻打電話給一個愛禱告的朋友，請他為你禱告，因為你要更投入、更恆切的禱告。

拴在脖子上的厚重磨石（17：2）
        耶穌時代的磨石重量約數百磅，只有借重驢子才能轉得動──如果你的脖子上拴著這麼一塊巨無霸投入海裡，試問你還有什麼希望可言？

禱告是靈魂的健身房。

English

        With His gaze fixed on Jerusalem and in anticipation of the events marking the consummation of His earthly ministry, Jesus intensifies His final training of the disciples. Today's reading consists of material found only in Luke's gospel. The subject of stewardship is a central theme, for the disciples will soon be entrusted with the precious message of the gospel. Jesus outlines the duties of a servant, then illustrates His teaching from the lives of 10 lepers. Finally, He underscores the importance of prayer that is persistent and humble, as seen in the parables of the mistreated widow (18:1-8) and the repentant publican (18:9-14)

        If it is true that "prayer is the barometer of a Christian's spiritual condition," how does your barometer read today?
        Tucked away in today's reading is this significant verse: "And he [Jesus] spake a parable unto them [the disciples] to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (18:1). What follows is the parable of the persistent widow, a parable aimed at fainting disciples! Does that include you? Are you passing out in the midst of your prayers? Or are you praying without fainting?
        Maintaining an effective prayer life is hard work. It takes consistent, daily effort. Prayer is also difficult because it is one of the activities Satan would most like to see you avoid. Through prayer you receive guidance and provision from God; through prayer God makes you a channel of His power. If Jesus needed to pray, and if Jesus told His disciples they ought always to pray, how about you ? Call up a praying friend right now and ask that person to pray that you will be a more committed and consistent prayer yourself.

Heavy, Heavy Hangs Around Your Neck (17:2)
        The millstone of Jesus' day weighed several hundred pounds and could be turned only with the aid of a donkey—a definite handicap if you were tossed into the sea with one tied around your neck!

Prayer is the gymnasium of the soul.