In the 1970s, we moved our European/Middle East head office to London, England. At that time, one of our external auditors told me this story.

Two men shared an office; they had desks facing each other. They had worked together for a number of years and had become good friends. One day, one of them had put a five-pound note on his desk to be used for a particular purchase, but he was called away from his desk. When he came back, the money was gone. He asked his friend about it, but the friend said that he did not know what had happened to it. He accused him of taking it. The friend swore up and down that he had not, but the other fellow did not believe him. Their friendship was over; they still shared the office, but they hardly talked.

In order to facilitate some changes in their office, workmen removed the desks, and the banknote fluttered to the floor. It had fallen down between the two desks and had been stuck on a ledge all those months. Because of a false accusation, a good friendship had been ruined temporarily.

False accusations caused Jesus to be taken to Pilate for trial by those who despised Him:

Luke 23:2 – And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." (NIV)

Pilate openly declared that he could find no fault in Jesus, as much as admitting that he believed Jesus to be telling the truth and the chief priests to be lying. But Peter states that Jesus was setting us an example:

1 Peter 2:21-23 – To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (NIV)

Several times in his letter, Peter reinforces this thought:

• If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20b NIV)
• But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. (1 Peter 3:14a (NIV)
• If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:14 NIV)

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us to bear it patiently when we are insulted for the name of Jesus. We also pray that we will always speak the truth and be slow to accuse others of things that we think they may have done or not done. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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