When We Are Falsely Accused and Misjudged

How do you respond when you are falsely accused?
Incredibly, astoundingly misjudged?
Attacked. Belittled. Mocked. Shown no (absolutely NO!) grace. At all.

How is it POSSIBLE to respond with grace and care and love and kindness and THE GOSPEL?
(When what I REALLY “want” to do is argue. PROVE that this person is wrong. Very, very wrong. Point out how breathtakingly INACCURATE his unkind, unmerciful, and MEAN his words are. Show (with illustration after illustration) how really HE is the one with the problem. He is the one whose faith is immature and has no biblical substance opr wisdom or maturity AT ALL. How HE never (ever!) talks about his desperate neediness for Christ, the cross, grace, forgiveness, etc. But he DARES accuse ME of just “playing a part” and “going through the motions.” AUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!)

What to do.
What to do.

Mulling like this is probably not the answer, eh?
Let’s consider something better.
How about this–THE GOSPEL.

(I know, I know. I’m a broken record. But really–this is all I have to offer in life. This is it. I have nothing else.)

The gospel says that I don’t have to DO anything — that God is for me, saving me, adopting me for His own glory. And that I am called (in response!) to BELIEVE.

(And–amazingly!–He gives me the grace to believe too! Ahhhhh. Yes. My heart rate is already starting to come down.)

I don’t have to be angry.
I already have the best!
I have Christ.

I don’t have to defend myself or try to prove this person wrong.
 I am crucified with Christ.
I no longer live.

(And anyway–whatever this person accuses me of? Well. Truly? I’m MUCH MUCH worse than he even knows.)

And yet — and yet — God supplies all of my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
May not feel very good at the time.
May not be what I “want.”
But it’s desperately what I need.

Pride is anti-love.
Please forgive my sinful, proud heart, God!
And CAUSE ME to love.

Thank You, God!
(Yes, yes. Heart rate is coming down a lot now.)

Amen.
Oh, and Goodnight too.

Love,
t