“While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.”

– Matthew 28:11-15

In this world we will have trouble, and one thing that troubles us is when the enemy conspires to cover up or confuse what God has done in our lives. It is a difficult reality to face, that the enemy did not stop his work even after Jesus was resurrected from the grave, neither does he leave us alone when we choose to follow Christ and live a life of integrity.

Yet while the resurrection is the act by which we profess that the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies, the work of the Holy Spirit will continue on as it falls upon those who belong to God and works through them. We belong to God, and the Holy Spirit now works through us, have your way, Lord!

But the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives is not a passive spirit. Not only do we survive the enemies attacks, his lies and his deceit, we do more than that; we thrive through it all. The chief priests paid off the Roman guards to lie about Jesus’ resurrection, but it by no means stopped the truth from being revealed, or else we would not have come to know it today. The Spirit of Truth will also give us the strength to concur no matter what the enemy does to try and stifle our testimony.

God of Truth,

You know all, and you see all. When lies are told about us, even when everyone else believes it, you know the truth. Help that to assure us, and help us not to allow evil deeds to frustrate us. Remind us of your omniscience, so that we can be confident as we bare witness to the truth that sets us free. In Jesus Name, Amen!

How do you press on despite the negative gossip said about you?