False Accusations

Snowstorms canceled everything this week except the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in people's hearts. In my case it was how to respond in a God honoring way to false accusations from an unsaved man listening to the father of lies. ( John 8:44) "He (Jesus) committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." ( I Peter 2:22-23) It is difficult to respond in a God pleasing way to a burly individual cursing you out, threatening physical violence over something that at first you find incomprehensible, and then totally false. "How about a rational conversation, rick?" Not with this person. But barricading a door and fervent prayer spelled deliverance. God is real. The situation could have turned out very differently.
On a completely different note, had wonderful fellowship with our brother Gary as we looked at the beginning of Romans 9. Paul the apostle had great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart for his unsaved Israelite kinsmen. How many American Christians can say that we would be willing to be cut off from Christ for the sake of fellow countrymen who don't know Him? I found these painful questions because I don't have even a tithe of the compassion that Paul had for the perishing.