It seems to me that meekness is the hardest fruit of the Spirit to bring forth. When others falsely accuse you and gossip about your hard earned testimony, our human nature desperately longs to “right the wrongs.” However, the false accusations by our enemies are, in reality, a gift. Jesus said in Matt.5:11, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.


If you are trying to serve God in any capacity, Satan is angry about it. If your pastor draws a line in the sand and boldly questions, “Who is on the Lord’s side?”, many will become angry. The truths of God’s Word anger unbelievers, because it forces them to face their sin. This is not fun – I know from experience. I faced the horrible facts about my own sin on June 12, 1993. I ran to the Savior, thankful for His gift of salvation. But Satan has blinded many from seeing the love of Christ. They are swallowing the lie from the devil that “they are really good people.” God’s Word says that there are none that are righteous. (Rom. 3:10, 23) They do want to hear this. Therefore, they desire to blame someone besides themselves for the sin in their lives. Often, God’s man is the target of the blame. Why? Because he is the one who held the flashlight of God’s Word in their eyes.


The truth also angers those who are backslidden on the Lord. You are backslidden if there ever was a time in your life when you were closer to the Lord than you are now. Have you ever prayed more than you do now? Have you ever read and studied God’s Word more than you do now? Are you as faithful to church as you have ever been? Are you harboring sin in your life, and not just outward sins, like lying or gossiping, but inward sins?  Inward sins are things like pride, hate, grudges, unforgiving spirit, and so forth. For a person to get right after back sliding on the Lord they would need to repent to the Lord for their sin, and make restitution. If you have not forgiven someone, you should go to them and make it right. If you have lied about your pastor or a fellow church member you should apologize and rectify the situation. If you have stolen something, you should return it – whatever you need to do to get right, you should be willing to do it. If you are not, then you are also rebellious toward the Lord as well as backslidden.


If you are staring down the “gun barrel” of false accusation, resist the desire to justify yourself. Let God justify you. He does a much better, and more permanent, job than we ever could. He knows the truth. He is pleased when you do right, even when no one else is.


Perhaps you have been meek in the situation, but you find yourself not loving your accuser. Jesus said if we love those that love us, we’re no different than the lost. They, too, love those that love them. The test comes in loving those who hate us. Jesus says in Luke 6: 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. This is the mark of a true Christian – loving those who do not love us. It is such a hard thing to do. In fact, I’d venture to say that “we” can’t do it at all. Christ must do it through us. This means we must be a willing vessel for Him to use. 


Rather than becoming angry at your accusers, pray for them. Another hard thing to do. Jesus says in Matt. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;


Lastly, remember that your enemies are bestowing a gift upon you (Matt. 5:11-12), so you do genuinely have something for which to be thankful. You can glorify God and thank Him for counting you worthy to bear reproach for His sake.


Best of all, remember that HE is with you. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Yay! HE has overcome this wicked world, and the Wicked One! 


The Lord is cheering you on from the threshold of Glory. He sees your sufferings, and He is pleased when you endure hardness as a good soldier. (2 Tim. 2:3) 


I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 Perhaps it would be okay to change the “I” to “we”, just this once? 🙂 WE can do it, through HIM! 




Because He lives,