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Dealing with false accusation

By Chidi Okoroafor
11 June 2017   |   2:05 am
False accusation is intentionally damaging a person’s reputation with false information. Accusation is not proof that a person actually committed the act for which he is accused of.

Chidi Okoroafor

Text: Mathew 5:11
Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:23, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly” (NIV).

False accusation is intentionally damaging a person’s reputation with false information. Accusation is not proof that a person actually committed the act for which he is accused of. When falsely accused, it is important to remember that what God knows about you is infinitely more important than what others think about you. A clear conscience laughs at false accusation and so, you need not stress your life thinking about an accusation against you that is purely false.

False accusation is like giving a dog a bad name just to kill it. Have you ever been accused falsely of doing something you don’t even know anything about? False accusation hurts and it hurts badly. The good things you have done may not spread speedily to others like false accusation, which spreads like wild fire. False accusation, if not well managed, can send someone to an early grave.

Jesus said in Mathew 5:11, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” This is very encouraging and more so coming from the mouth of our Saviour, Who also endured all manner of false accusation. The world crucified Jesus, the King of Glory on the cross because of false accusations, so you should not be surprised, when you are falsely accused.

Some of these attacks will come against what you believe. Sometimes your motives will be questioned. Sometimes your words will be twisted. Sometimes you will be ostracised for your views. Sometimes you will be deliberately misquoted. The point to remember here is that these things will happen from time to time. It is part of what it means to live on earth.

God uses these very painful times to move you on to new levels of life and new areas of service and sometimes to a new place altogether. I don’t think we can always see in advance what God may be doing in these times of trouble. Speak the truth in love and leave the results in God’s Hands.

How to deal with false accusation:
• You make a mistake in trying always to clear yourself: Consider carefully this quote from a Christian leader of an earlier generation and a renowned British Bible teacher F. B. Meyer: “We make a mistake in trying always to clear ourselves. We should be wiser to go straight on, humbly doing the next thing, and leaving God to vindicate us. “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon day.” There may come hours in our lives, when we shall be misunderstood, slandered, falsely accused. At such times, it is very difficult not to act on the policy of the men around us in the world. They at once appeal to law and force and public opinion. But the believer takes his case into a higher court and lays it before his God.”

• Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life: You desperately need that reminder, when you are under attack. Let’s face it; unless you guard your own heart, you will soon be down in the gutter with your opponents.

• Don’t fall into the attack mode. Do not fall into the trap of returning evil for evil. It’s frightening how quickly we can fall into the attack mode, when we are angry and hurt. In the Internet age, anyone with a computer can make any sort of ugly attack, post it on the Internet and hide behind a cloak of anonymity.

Technology has made it too easy to say whatever we want and then post it on Facebook or YouTube or a discussion board. So, your challenge must be to guard your own heart, when you are under attack and not to fall into the attack mode.

The truth is that time shall vindicate the just. Entrust your life into the Hands of God, Who judges rightly.Today’s Nugget: Time shall vindicate the Just.Prayer: Lord, help me to learn always to entrust my life into Your Hands, when going through false accusation in Jesus Name, Amen.Prayer line: Send text only to 09078154261.
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, General Superintendent Assemblies of God Nigeria
E-mail: evangelgospel@yahoo.com

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