Loved, Redeemed and Chosen

Day 291

 'The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.' 

Proverbs 11:3

Integrity. The quality of being honest and having strong moral principals. How do we uphold living our lives as people of integrity in a world where the norm is to ignore other people, to keep our private lives separate from the people we pretend to be and to live and walk like everyone else. 

I believe that God calls us to live out our lives as people of integrity. And that doesn't mean sticking to the norm. That means getting out there. Being loving. Being gentle. Being kind. Being trustworthy. Letting people know that you can be relied upon, that what you say is honest and true. Following in Jesus' footsteps, amidst persecution and temptation, amidst sin and the world's mess. 

I want to take the example of Deborah here, because I have been looking into her story a lot recently. Deborah was a woman of integrity. When telling Barak, who has been called to lead the people of Israel into battle, that God was in control and would bring victory, he asked if she could have gone along with him. And instead of being easy-going and gentle, Deborah said something along the lines of 'You know what, mate? I think you're being a bit cowardly here. And I think you're being a bit selfish. But if that's what you want., then I will go with you, but you won't get the fame - God will have led Israel to victory because of me.' Deborah was honest. And if Deb hadn't been honest here, I don't think it would have done anyone any good. Barak wouldn't know that it was God, and Deborah's faith in God, that brought them through - it would just be him. And that wouldn't have helped him to trust God, and trust Deborah, in the future. So I think that by being people of integrity, we have to be honest like that. Not cruelly honest, but just letting people know where they are falling, and guide them to a solid path.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Help me to be a person of integrity in the way I walk and act and the way I talk. Help me to show others that you live within me, and give me the strength to be honest and kind. Lord, let me live the life you have called me to live today.

Amen