INTEGRITAS (3)

TOPIC: INTEGRITAS (3)
TEXT: MATTHEW 23:1-7; 13-33
MEMORY VERSE: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8

It is absurd a lot of people expect others to do the right thing yet do not want to do it themselves, they are like the Pharisees. Jesus cursed them in His days, He said, “Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” – Matthew 23:27. We have leaders who want citizens to obey the law of the land but they themselves are not ready to align by the law. Don’t be like them, as Christians, we obey the law not because of its consequences but because of Christ. You as a person do not want people to lie to you but you tell lies to others. Your steps and behaviours are not in line with what you say, you are a hypocrite.

At a time when integrity was so scarce in this nation, a government agency designed a project tagged, “Do the Right Thing”, and one day as I was driving on my way to the office and usually there is heavy traffic on our road, especially on the road from my house to the office, hardly you will not experience traffic on this road during weekdays. So on this day, there is too much traffic and the staff bus of the agency that champions this “do the right thing” project was also passing and boldly writing on the bus was, “DO THE RIGHT THING”. While other road users go slowly to navigate their ways, the drive of the Do the Right Thing Bus just manoeuvre and climb the pavement beside the road and drove through it. For me, I felt bad and did not want to abuse him, I realized he is carrying the staff of the agency as well, I just asked the driver and those staff, “Are you doing the right thing? You want citizens to do the right thing but you are ready to tow the same line.” None of them could say a word. It is so sad that we want change but nobody is ready to change.

God called David a man after His own heart, never ever in the history of man did God called a man after His own heart, even Adam that He made in His own likeness and image, God did not call him, a man after my heart. With all the wisdom, power and strength that God endowed Adam with. Generations past before David as mentioned in the Bible from Genesis up to first and second Samuel, it was only David (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). What did David do for God? I guess it is not just praise; it is also because David walked in the Way God walked, and he followed and patterned his life after God’s. Can God called you a (wo)man after his own heart? Are you a (wo)man of your words? You may be a man of truth but you work and walk contrary, retrace your steps back and hold on to the value of integrity.

In the midst of the corruption in the world at the time, God saw Job and boasted about him to Satan, this is the same devil that many Christians bind and loose today. Job was a man from the East, the headquarters of corruption at the time, even his friends could not believe Job did not commit sin, but he remained a righteous and faithful man, and God took pride in Him and showed him to Satan. Satan, you think I cannot get a righteous soul on earth? See my servant, Job. No matter how Satan tried, Job did not disappoint God, he was resolute and never compromise his stand with God. Can God be proud of you in the midst of the corruption and unrighteousness that permeates our world today? Can God find you His own servant?

Word Affirmation: "For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." - Genesis 26:22 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“Can God be proud of you in the midst of the corruption and unrighteousness that permeates our world today? Can God find you His own servant?”

MIND THIS