I have really been thinking through some things recently. Character! Integrity! With some things that I have seen take place recently I am very concerned and have the deep conviction that we need to be committed more than ever to being people of character and integrity in all areas of our lives as followers of Christ (whether we are in so-called vocational ministry or not). We must decide and strive to be the man or woman of God that will not back down, bend or compromise just to please others, attain the applause of men, better our status or position, obtain more invitations, or just be liked. Choose to be faithful!
The following are just a few of the statements that the Lord has brought to my attention lately that He has used to encourage me and bolster me in my walk with Him and my service unto Him lately. I pray the Holy Spirit will encourage you and stretch you as He has me! May you and I do as my pastor and friend Jonathan Falwell said this past Sunday during his message from Colossians 2:6-7 in our worship service:
“IN ORDER TO BUILD UP, WE MUST DIG DOWN…before we build. Laying the foundation that will sustain us as we move forward with God. It’s often been said that if we will PAY ATTENTION TO THE DEPTH OF OUR MINISTRY, GOD WILL PAY ATTENTION TO ITS BREADTof do just that! May we dig deeper in our walk with and ministry unto Christ!
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”–Proverbs 20:7
“When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful (crooked) will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” –Proverbs 11:2-6
“But God forbid that I should boast (glory) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” –Galatians 6:14
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” –Colossians 2:6-7
“We set young leaders up for a fall if we encourage them to envision what they can do before they consider the kind of person they should be.”–R. Ruth Barton
“Whenever you find a man who says he doesn’t believe in real right or wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later. he may break his promise to you, but if try breaking one to him he’ll be complaining “It’s not fair” before you can say Jack Robinson.” –The Case for Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“Mediocrity bothers God because it violates His nature and behavior.”–Thom Rainer (Simple Church)
“Character is not made in crisis; it is only exhibited.”–Anon.
“Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.” –Definition of Ministry given by Warren Wiersbe (On Being a Servant of God)
“The mark of a mature Christian is how he reacts to his brothers blessings.”–Lee Roberson
“Why abandon the invisible King who controls outcomes to serve the visible king who only claims to control outcomes? In leadership there will always be visible kings who claim to have control over the outcome of our decisions. Within the context of the world that we see, their claims will have merit. The temptation to give in will be real. The seemingly unavoidable consequences of ignoring those claims will make compromise that much more enticing. It will be the “prudent” and “responsible thing to do….If in the moment we can remember that our talent, our opportunities, and our passion for leadership are all given to us by God; if we can remember that our successes are the blessings of God; then perhaps we will remember as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remembered: One need never violate the principles of God to maintain the blessings of God. The unseen King is able….There is never a reason to compromise God’s standards in order to maintain God’s blessings.” –Andy Stanley (Next Generation Leader)
