January 16, 2025 Devo

A while back, someone told me something they heard someone else say about me that was not very flattering. It was also not true. Or at least, it was only partially true. It’s interesting to me how we can paint someone as ugly as we want by imagining their intentions and exaggerating their actions. I’m sure we’ve all been painted like that from time to time.
I’d love to say that it didn’t bother me at all. But it did. It always hurts to hear that someone thinks you’re a jerk or to know someone is slamming your reputation to others. The temptation when that happens is to react to what someone has said or return ugliness for ugliness. But that only adds fuel to the fire. And it changes nothing. At the end of the day, I’m not judged by what someone else thinks of me. I’m judged by what God knows about me. And what I know about myself. I’m often asked by pastors who have to make decisions that they know are going to make one or more people upset how they can live with such decisions. I always tell them, “When you look in the mirror, do you know you made what you believe to be the best decision with the best of intentions? If you can, then give it to God. Because He’s the only one you ultimately have to please.”
David was dealing with this. Bad things were being said about him. Lies were being spread and believed. When you read the passage today, you can tell that it cut him to the core to hear what was being said. But look at where he finally lands: “You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself.” In other words, worry about your character and how your heart is before the Lord. Trust God with your reputation.
Someone needs to hear this today. Some of us may have been lying awake at night because someone else has said harsh things about us. Things that may simply be another person’s perspective. Things that may be skewed, magnified, or just plain made up. Some of us are worried about what others might hear and what others might think. And we need to let it go. Reacting, debating, and tearing other people down in response only make matters worse. Here’s a couple of questions to ask yourself. Is there any truth in what’s being said? If there is, then own it and confess it. But if there’s not, or if it’s being twisted, then just give it to God. The person in the mirror and the Person upstairs are the only people you need approval from. Worry about your character, not your reputation. That’s God’s Word for you today.