Welcome to God Today. I’m Steve Reiter with Right Turn Media and The Eternal Leadership Podcast.
Back when I was in college I was big into lifting weights. My first year after high school, I worked as a bouncer in a nightclub. I loved the job because I was able to love on people that would never step foot in a church. There was one Saturday I remember in particular. I was in a mood and I wanted to card everyone. I wanted to see their IDs to make sure they were 21, even if I knew they were well over 21. It was a hit with the ladie – the women that were over 40.
There was one group that came in and as I led them in, after looking at their cards, he looked at me and he said, “Hey, lay off the steroids, son.” For me, someone who never touched steroids, never looked at steroids, never seen steroids in person in my life – I took it as a badge of honor. I knew I was doing things right. I was lifting weights, I was eating right and really putting on good weight and strength. In thinking about that over the years since then, I have often thought, “Why do I get upset when someone accuses me of something I know I never did?” When someone attacks my integrity and I know I am clean, why would I get upset?
There are times in our lives where we are supposed to defend ourselves, like Jesus when they accused Him of having a demon. He said, “No, a Kingdom divided against himself cannot stand.” There were other times, like when He stood in front of Herod, and they accused Him, and He just shut His mouth. I am reminded in scripture, Proverbs 3:30, “Do not contend with a man for no reason. When he has done you no harm.” Also, Matthew 5:10-11, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
I want to encourage you right now. If you are going through a really hard time and people are accusing you left and right, and you know you haven’t done it? Take cheer. Take cheer because it was something that happened to Jesus. Father, right now I lift up people who are watching this right now. They are going through the ringer. I ask right now that you give them the strength they need in order to go through this season. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Thanks a lot. This is God Today, my name is Steve Reiter. Be awesome.