Light Up Your World Devotion Series, Day 3 of 3

Illuminating Accusations

Psalm 18:28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Yesterday's devotion explained how we should seek God in order for the truth to be exposed in every situation and for wisdom in our responses and actions. But how do you make the truth known when someone is falsely accusing you or making unjust assessments of your character?

The answer to this could be found in the example of two mothers at odds in 1 Kings 3. These women who lived in the same house and who both bore a son sought King Solomon for judgment in their situation. One of the women claimed that the other, after accidentally smothering her own son while sleeping, had exchanged the two children to make it appear that the living child was hers. The other woman denied this.

After calling for a sword, King Solomon told the mothers that the only fair solution would be to split the baby in two! The lying mother agreed saying, "It shall be neither mine nor yours-divide it!" The biological mother instead cried out, "Oh Lord, give the baby to her, just don't kill him!" Based on the words and actions of these two women, the rightful mother was revealed and her baby was returned.

It can be very overwhelming and even seem hopeless when people challenge your sincerity. Some people can seem very convincing in their accusations, but lies always have an expiration date! Proverbs 12:19 reveals, "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."

If you were to put a flashlight on outside during the brightest part of the day, there would be no secrets to reveal. Everything is already illuminated. When your character is tested and the light is shined upon you, there should be nothing questionable found in your words and actions.

Luke 11:36 confirms this thought, "Therefore, if your whole body is full of LIGHT, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you."

I challenge you to pray according to today's verse by asking the Lord to turn any darkness in your life into light. When offended and accused, it's easy to then feel justified in all of our actions-even the wrong ones. So, it's always important to evaluate areas we may have responded wrongfully and make things right. Your boldness to extinguish the darkness in your life could trigger the same reaction in others.

Dear Lord, Thank You that You always bring the truth to light. Help me to remain strong when others falsely accuse me.

I also thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.