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OUR DAILY BREAD                 Friday, Aug. 18, 1995 
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READ:  Psalm 109:1-5, 26-31 
                 
             HOW TO ANSWER ACCUSERS 
 
       "They are my accusers, but I give  
               myself to prayer." 
 
                         - Psalm 109:4  
 
While I was a student at college, my roommate 
accused me of stealing $100 from him.  He didn't 
confront me directly, but spread his lie among 
his friends and reported it to the dean's office. 
The incident was thoroughly investigated, as it 
should have been. 
 
It was the most helpless experience I have ever 
faced.  All I could do was say, "I didn't do it." 
But those words seemed hollow against the accusation 
and rumor. 
 
I didn't know what to do.  Part of me wanted to  
knock the truth out of my roommate.  Another part 
wanted to contact all who heard about it and tell 
them I was innocent.  Only later did my accuser  
admit that he had faked the theft to get money out 
of his parents for a stereo. 
 
King David had a similar experience.  Someone was 
making terrible accusations against him, undermining 
his position and causing him much grief (Ps. 109:2-4). 
 
So what did David do?  Did he use his authority to have 
his accuser killed?  No, he prayed and asked the Lord 
to intercede, punish the slanderer, and make it right 
(vv. 4-29). 
 
When someone spreads false rumors about us, we may 
want to retaliate.  How much better it is to answer 
our accusers with the power of prayer! 
 
                                -- David C. Egner 
 
              THINKING IT THROUGH 
 
Have you ever been the victim of false accusations? 
  How can you best honor Christ in your response? 
What principles can you apply from Romans 12:17-21? 
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            THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
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              To stop a rumor, 
               start praying.  
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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Jeremiah 1-2

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