ATTITUDE
Someone recently told me about a radio program she tunes into on her way to work. A marriage counsellor mentioned that he listens for one thing when a client is telling his/her story… contempt. This exposes the attitude of the counsellee towards the other person.
Think about it. When we have a conflict with another person, regardless who they are, we stand apart from him/her and point fingers… contempt!
Jesus said we must pray for our enemies. That’s a loaded requirement! Sometimes our prayers can be full of contempt. What are we doing? We are setting the standard for our own judgment AND for our own punishment.
Matthew 7:1-2 NLT
[1] “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. [2] For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”
What should be our attitude when we pray for others? Believers who have fallen into sin? Family members who are at loggerheads with us? Marriage partners who treat us badly? Enemies who get in our hair? Unbelievers who offend us by their wicked behaviour? Government officials who fail? I quote, “The world is a magical place full of people waiting to be offended by something” (or someone – added)!
Two examples from Scripture, prayers from two people who had every right to be offended, who were unjustly and cruelly executed.
Luke 23:34 NLT
[34] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Acts of the Apostles 7:59-60 NLT
[59] “As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.”
What was the difference between them and us? They changed the accusation from, “Look what they did to me!” to “Look what they are doing to themselves!”
We easily and quickly take offence and demand retribution when we think about ourselves first. Our prayers will reflect this attitude. Do some of David’s prayers come close to contempt?
Psalms 3:7 NLT
[7] “Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!”
There is a place for God’s justice in His scheme of things. We anticipate the day when He will avenge all the wrongs done to His people. He promised a day of judgment when Jesus comes.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 NLT
[6]”In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. [7] And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, [8] in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.”
However, Paul is not praying for or gloating over the judgment to come on the wicked. He is stating the sober fact that it will happen to those who reject Jesus.
The Bible’s stance is compassion for those on whom God’s terrible judgment will fall. God grieved over His wayward people. He could not treat them as their sins deserved.
Hosea 11:8-9 NLT
[8] “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. [9] No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.”
Jesus wept over His enemies. He was more concerned for them than for Himself.
Matthew 23:37 NLT
[37] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me… “
Luke 19:41-44 NLT
[41] But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. [42] “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. [43] Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. [44] They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
Luke 23:28 NLT
[28]”But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
It’s amazing how quickly one’s attitude changes from
contempt to compassion when one thinks of the destiny of those whose words and behaviour reflects their hearts. Perhaps we will move closer to the heart of the Father when we pray with compassion for the lost rather than call for their destruction.
Ezekiel 18:23 NLT
[23] “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?” says the Sovereign Lord. “Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.”
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
[9] “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”