Lied On...

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver. Proverbs 16:16

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Mark 14: 55-59 NIV

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

The Romans controlled Israel, but the Jews were given some authority over religious and minor civil disputes.  The Jewish ruling body, the high council was made up of 71 of Israel's religious leaders.  It was assumed that these men would be just.  Instead, they showed great injustice in the trial of Jesus, even to the point of making up lies to use against Him.  The statement that the false witnesses finally agreed to use as an accusation twisted Jesus' actual words.  Jesus did not say, "I will destroy this Temple made with human hands;" He answered (them), "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up again in three days" (John 2:19).  Jesus was not talking about Herod's Temple but about His own body.  But the truth was not the purpose here, taking Jesus down was; and they could only use lies to do it.

Let's face it, someone is probably out there lying about each of us right now. Someone may simply be stating their opinion about us; while someone else may be trying to turn the "whole world" against us.  But what God is currently teaching me, and what we all need to learn is, WHO CARES?!  The person or those people, no matter who they are have absolutely no authority over us.  Their lies, or "interpretation" of who they think we are - is just that (lie and/or interpretation).  The only one who holds the truth is God.  It hurts; it does attempt to disrupt our lives for a minute... so what can we do?

First, let's stop playing in the hands of these people who are intentionally, or being used by the evil that does exist in this world to destroy us.  Whether they admit it or not, destruction is their purpose - and it is evil.  As we will continue to observe of Jesus in this chapter, we see that He did not play their games, or into their games.  He didn't allow them to control, nor stir His ministry or His reactions.  Jesus was consistent, and consistent with the Word of God.  Are you?  We oftentimes give people little nuggets (sometime big ones) to work with.  Jesus gave them nothing.  Let's follow His example and give them nothing.  Allow the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father to have His Way.  If we believe He is for us and not against us.  Let's trust God to work it all out to our good; just as He promises to do.  Not just the good things - but ALL things (includes the hurtful and the bad), He promises to work out to the good of His children.

Trust me, I know how hard this is going to be.  But I trust in God that we will all make it and come out better for it, if we take just one step at a time in changing what we can - which is, ourselves.  We can do it, because the Spirit working in us, IS doing it.  Hallelujah!

On the other side of the coin; when we're hurt we often taint someone's else's reputation ourselves by pushing our side of the story as the final judgment to the people we run to talk to.  The Holy Spirit has brought this to my attention as a huge red warning sign lately.  There are (at least) 3 sides to every story - your side, their side and God's side.  Let's seek to gain God's perspective at all times, in order to not become the cause of exactly what has happened, is happening or may happen to us.

PRAYER: Father, You have promised the righteous Your protection from their enemies.  My enemies are not the people, but the darkness at work within them.  They may still come against us, but they will be powerless, ashamed, and confused by their inability to harm Your children.  Your power against them is so fearsome that when I search for my enemies, I will not be able to find them.  Such protection is beyond my understanding but not to be taken lightly; for you send forth Your angels to guard me in all my ways.  It's amazing, how involved and concerned You are with our whole being.  You know exactly what I need when I call on You for help, and I trust Your decisions; I trust Your perspective.  Thank You Father, in the Name of Jesus.  Amen