From voices accusatring

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with indefinable anxiety. The accuser of the brothers murmurs : "You are not good, you have no value, a burden for others. Take a look at your story, how many times you have failed." Satan loves tormenting Christians, but when Jesus came, He said : "Now it's over !" He added an incredibly reassuring saying : "Do not think not that I will accuse you to the Father" (John 5:45).

As a member of God's people, we can sometimes really accuse ourselves. Paul says : "They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts ... and their thoughts blaming or defending themselves one by one" (Romans 2:15). Who is Paul talking to here? He speaks of the Christian who is still trying to live according to the Old Covenant, struggling to please God on his own. This Christian says to himself : "I have done well to the Lord all week, so there is no reason I can not succeed another week."

Others may accuse us, as was the case with the adulterous woman when religious leaders brought her before Jesus asking him to accuse Him, too. But how did Jesus respond to those who accused this woman (and Himself) ? "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone against it" (John 8: 7). Jesus emphasized what was important : their own sin. And, one after the other, they are gone (see 8: 9).

Voices may cry in your ears, but when they do, we will hear another voice above all others : "My sheep hear my voice ; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).

Stay quiet and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit saying : "Jesus has set you free." May God help you build on the firm foundation that is based on the glorious love of Jesus - and rejoice in His grace wonderful !

Gary Wilkerson