Accusations: “How you gon’ act”

By: Monique Smith

Hey friends! In my study time, I’ve been reading Daniel and I am fascinated by this book thus far. It’s really cool to read the stories we learned about as a kid, as an adult and truly understand the context! I have so many devotional ideas blubbing on the inside but I wanted to share this quick thought with you.

If we are followers of Christ, we will be accused of doing things or being involved in something where the ultimate purpose of the accusations is to see us defeated or humiliated.

Let’s look at Daniel 6. In this chapter King Darius appoints 120 leaders over the kingdom.  Over them 3 administrators were named. Of those three, Daniel was one. However, Daniel was distinguished because he had the spirit of God in him. All of the leaders were beyond jealous of Daniel. The Bible didn’t say Daniel carried himself in a arrogant way or anything, so the people were jealous for no reason.  They kept trying to find fault in his lifestyle, but could come up with nothing. So they took it a step further. The leaders went to the King and encouraged him to make a decree that anyone who prays to any god, God, or anything other than the king for 30 days would be put in the lion’s den.

Everyone knew Daniel prayed to God daily so they encouraged the decree to get Daniel killed. Long story short, they found Daniel praying, King Darius tossed him in the lion’s den, and the next day Daniel was still alive because the angel of God shut the lion’s mouth.

When the King went to check on Daniel the next day, he called out to Daniel to see if he was alive. Daniel responded “May the king live forever…. I was found innocent before God…..and did not commit a crime against you, my king”.

Daniel’s response is the focus of this devotional. The bible tells us in Colossians 4:6- “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Daniel could have fussed the King out, told him “Ahhhaha! Sucka, can’t kill me!”, and said all kinds of reckless out of control things, but He chose to be Christ like and respond with grace.

So to you friends, how you gon’ act when false accusations come your way? How did Jesus act? Let’s continually be mindful of our Father and Brother’s characteristics. : )

Prayer: God, I love you! You are the apple of my eye. The only true lover of my soul. God I appreciate your presence and the favor you have over my life. God, help me, my speech, and my thoughts when I am faced with false accusations.  God I don’t understand sometimes why I am picked on or called out, but help me control my flesh and not retaliate the way I want to. I want to be more like you, each and every day. I love you and praise you. In Jesus name, Amen.