Verse of the day: Genesis
31:36 Then Jacob was angry and
rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me?”
Is
our testimony for Jesus “Teflon” tough? In other words, do accusations against
us stick, or do they slide off because we generally live a blameless life
before the Lord? I did not say a perfect life…I said a blameless one. There
were people in the Scriptures that were blameless before God, but not perfect.
Genesis 6:9 tells us that Noah was “just and perfect”, or blameless. Job 1:1
tells us that Job was “perfect and upright”, or blameless. In 2 Samuel 22:24,
King David speaks of being upright, or blameless, before God. Yet, we know that
he was not perfect, and even God called him a man after God’s own heart. Here,
Jacob is responding to his uncle, Laban, who has treated him unfairly in the
twenty years that he has served him (v. 36-42). The fact of the matter is that
none of us are perfect, for if we were we would not need a Savior; for all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However, even in our
imperfection, we can have a testimony that will not allow accusations of
wrongdoing stick to us. Whatever wrongdoing we may be accused of, as an excuse
to mistreat us, should slide off of us as if we have been covered by Teflon (a
nonstick coating used on cookware). As born again believers, we are blameless
before the Father because of the righteousness of Jesus that enables us to be
justified (declared “not guilty” by God; Romans 5:1). Nonetheless, we must
still live a blameless life in this world so that the Lord can effectively use
us to lead others to Jesus. When Jacob finally confronts Laban for his unfair
treatment, even though at this time he is unaware that Rebekah has stolen her
father’s idols, he could do so with confidence, knowing that in spite of how he
was treated, he trusted the Lord to vindicate him. If we suffer for God, we
must not do it as an evildoer (1 Peter 4:15). 1 Peter 3:13-17 reads, And who is he who will harm you if you become
followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’
sake, you are blessed. “And do not be
afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good
conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good
conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it
is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for
doing evil.” We live in a world where truth is not tolerated, and we are
called narrow-minded, and bigoted. What was once considered sin is now widely
accepted, even amongst followers of Jesus. We must do all that we can to stand
apart and represent the Lord in a way that honors Him. We will be mocked for
choosing to do right, and we will be called weak when we refuse to “put someone
in their place” when they insult us or cheat us. We will be called foolish, and
stupid, for forgiving, and being kind, to those that have wronged us. They will
falsely accuse us, and question our motives, when they take our actions out of
context; but the bottom line is that we will have a clear conscience before
God. There will even be occasions when people will bad-mouth us, but others,
because of our blameless testimony, will come to our defense without us having
to say a word. Ultimately, there will come a day when God will come to our
defense, just as the Lord did for Jacob when He was being pursued by Laban (v.
24 & 29). We often get angry and want to give someone a piece of our mind
when they say something bad about us without a basis for it. Can I remind us
that Jesus was perfect yet people spoke badly of Him (Matthew 11:19). Do we
have the kind of testimony that the Lord can use in our defense against those
who would cause us suffering for doing what is right, or would they be right
when they accuse us of doing wrong?
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