Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

WAKE TO CRITICIZE

Each morning, a devout young Persian rose before daybreak to pray and read the Koran. One such morning, his father awoke and the boy said to him, "Behold, thy other children are lost in irreligious slumbers. I alone am awake to praise God." The wise father replied, "Son of my soul, it is far better to sleep than to awake and remark upon the faults of thy brethren."

Aaron and Miriam learned the bitter lesson that criticism displeases God. They were angry with Moses over his recent marriage and were quick to find fault with him. God called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam out in front of their tent. Miriam was struck down with leprosy. Aaron pleaded with Moses to pray for her (Numbers 12:1-13). Moses, being a kind man, did pray, and Miriam was healed.

Two vital lessons are learned from this prayer encounter. First, we must be careful about criticism no matter how justified it may seem. Second, like Moses, we must learn to pray for those who despitefully use us and say all manner of evil against us. Jesus said that true children of the Kingdom would live by these laws of kindness and mercy. Today, may we pray God will grant us grace to be merciful to those who criticize us.