Week 2, Day 11: People of Integrity


Also available in: Español | français

Integrity means wholeness, or a state of having all the parts of a thing or person fully and rightly fitted together. The opposite of integrity is brokenness, which we know is caused by sin.  For the Christian, integrity is served and supported by unrelenting truth.  Integrity requires first, knowing the truth and second, living according to the truth with consistency in action, values, and principles.  Just as embracing truth undergirds integrity, a rejection of truth and acceptance of dishonesty undermines integrity.

Lack of integrity within the ranks of professing believers seems to be common place today. The Book of Acts and the epistles seem to suggest that, unfortunately, this has always been the case.  There have always been those who would seek to profit by the Gospel.  This sometimes happens in blatant ways, as we see in frequent reports of prominent leaders of God’s people being exposed, be it for heresy, greed, or sexual immorality.  It also happens in subtle ways, ways that news reporters or bloggers may never hear about.  Pastors behave as dictators.  Employers use their positions of power for personal gain.  Co-workers take advantage of one another.  Not only does dishonesty and abuse exist in all quarters of the world but it also exists in the Church.  For many, working every day with “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ is a dreadful thing.  Dear friends, Satan rejoices at these ways we defile God’s name.  May this never be!

Nothing but the Gospel – its truth and its power – will fix this.  We must not pretend that the lack of integrity is a problem just for others.  No, the flesh still wars within each one of us, and we must put it to death daily, taking up the cross of Christ.  The Gospel reminds us that we are wholly dependent on God to work in us “both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).  We need God to make us whole, that is, holy, completely set apart for his good pleasure!

What the world desperately needs are men and women who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).  Governments need these people.  NGOs need these people.  The Church needs these people.  Businesses need these people.  Universities and schools need these people.

Will we and our ministry, business, staff team, or church heed the call to integrity?  Or will we wait until we are exposed by the light of God’s truth? 

Father, purify your people.  Make us holy as you are holy.  Cause us to be people of integrity.  Lord, cause our churches and organizations to be places where truth reigns and where justice is done.  For the sake of your name and the salvation of many, cause integrity to spring from your people like water from the rock.  You are able!

Amen

This blog is a part of the Lausanne Global Prayer Focus. We invite you to journey with The Lausanne Movement in prayer throughout the month of May. This journey will be a personal one, and a collective one. It will be focused on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, his good news for all people.

In week 2, we are focusing on The People Shaped by the Gospel. pdfDownload a prayer guide for the week, or visit lausanne.org/pray to access the new content daily. You may also enter your email on this page to be sent a weekly email reminder with the new prayer content each week of May. Be sure to select “Prayer” as a Topic Interest.