Voice of the Accuser

"One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, 'What have you been up to?'  Satan answered God, 'Going here and there, checking things out on earth.'"

– Job 1:6-7 (The Message)

“Now have come the salvation and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
They triumphed over him
    by the blood of the Lamb
    and by the word of their testimony

-       Rev. 12:10-11a (NIV)

We talked Sunday about how it can seem sometimes that God is so angry and so impatient with our sin.  Abimelek in Gen. 20 was certainly worried at first that God’s intent was to judge and punish him, even though he was trying so hard.  Yet God ultimately revealed himself to Abimelek not as accuser, judge or prosecutor, but as defender and protector.

The passages we’re reading today actually identify the voice of the accuser with all that stands in opposition to God.  The passage from Revelation especially assures us that that voice that plays in our heads and in our hearts so often, reminding us of our sin and suggesting that healing and forgiveness are impossible, will not be the last word.  The last word, the word of Jesus who died for us, is forgiveness and welcome. 

Could you talk with Jesus for a few minutes about the voice of your accuser?  What is the accuser whispering?  Invite Jesus into those lies, to replace them with his truth and hope.