The Weight

November 4

False accusations. There’s hardly a person alive who has not at some point in life borne the weight of being, if not falsely accused, at least misunderstood. Many have spent time incarcerated due to the misinterpretation of evidence that resulted in prison sentences. Jesus was sentenced to death on trumped up charges.

The weight of being ill perceived due to erroneous argumentation that affirmed guilt is a heavy burden. It is perhaps heavier than the weight of bearing actual guilt. When our actions are misrepresented, or our motives are misunderstood, we are perplexed—it caused the Lord to cry out to the Father, “Why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34).

Paul knew what it was like to be misunderstood. He had spent a lifetime building a reputation within the Hebrew religion. He was, by his own account, “a Hebrew of the Hebrews…a Pharisee…” Philippians 3:5, but by verse 8, Paul had concluded that all he’d accomplished in his own strength was, “…but dung.” So when in Acts 19:26, it was said of him, “This man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods,” the apostle was able to stand against the lie!

Paul was able to continue to proclaim Jesus boldly. Though he stood before judges who misunderstood and maligned him, he remained faithful. Though he faced hardship and imprisonment and torture and ultimately death for doing so, he would not be silent! Like him, may we not be intimidated by erroneous perceptions of ourselves or our motives. Though our faith may be maligned, our motives distorted, may we be emboldened by the truth we bear to steadfastly declare it to the lost—no matter what the cost!