Known by Our Intercession not by Our Criticism

Psalm 123:3

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.

Webster defines contempt as "feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn."  We certainly recognize the contempt that unbelievers often have for our faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.  We are quick to ask the Lord to open the eyes of those around us so that their scorn for us is replaced by a desire to learn from us the way, the truth and the life that we have in Jesus.

But when we are out in the world, how are we reacting to those that annoy us?  Are we treating them with contempt?  Are we losing our testimony because of an ugly glare or quick nasty comment that destroys our message of salvation?  Are we leaving the world with a taste of our nasty attitude instead of the love of the One who we have accepted as Our Savior?  

We need to learn that the world is filled with contempt, but we are not of this world.  We are of the kingdom of God.  We must refuse to be swamped by the cares of life.  We must turn over the annoyances that we run into in the world and let God handle them in the courts of heaven.  We must ask the Lord to give us discernment in all things so that we are known by our intercession and not by our criticism.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your mercy that You have extended to us so that we may be able to extend mercy to others.  We praise the name of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is our Mediator who stands for us to correct every wrong and every injury as any good master would do for his slave.  We pray, Lord, that we will not faint under our trials in this world, but we will look unto the name of Jesus in faith and in prayer so that we may be vessels of His perfect love and forgiveness and the world may know Him by our actions.

Let us then, when ready to faint under trials, look unto Jesus, and by faith and prayer cast ourselves upon the mercy of God.