Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Biography - A Life of Integrity

Read: Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Chronicles 29:17

Think: The problem with integrity is that when you feel like you’re really operating with a lot of integrity all the time and doing great in that, it probably actually means that you need to work on it… It’s similar to when a humble person communicates about their level of humility. It’s hard. I for one, am not ashamed to say that I continuously work on improving my integrity standards.

Integrity demands that a person put on no false front, that he wear no artificial mask, and that he play no deceptive role. Its very definition is the “soundness of moral principle and character, complete honesty and uprightness with no masking of intent.” The antonym for integrity is hypocrisy.

I love one of the taglines for the church that we’ve used in the past, “Come as you are, just don’t stay as you are!” This really speaks volumes about the moral compass of the church and how integrity is in the forefront of our pursuit as we follow Jesus. I also love the fact that Pastor Ben talks about how in Church there are no perfect people. I feel comfortable in this church knowing that people are not trying to be deceptive, trying to play the part of a perfect Christian. There’s grace when we fail, there’s freedom and there’s the chance to start over as we seek to be all that Jesus calls us to be.

When I think of a man with Integrity, I think of Joseph, the betrothed of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. There was a real man both honest and full of integrity. I read in Matthew 1:18-25:

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The easy thing for Joseph to do would have been to divorce Mary, but Joseph had integrity. He stood by her, he trusted God and witnessed firsthand the miracle of all miracles, God becoming flesh to rescue the people He so dearly loved. Having integrity isn’t easy, it isn’t always popular and it isn’t always fun, but when we have faith in the Lord, anything is possible.

Do: The next time your Integrity is challenged, go to Jesus for the strength, guidance and courage to do what is right. Determine now, today, before a situation comes that might tempt you to compromise to rely on Him to get you through.

Pray: Dear Lord, I pray that you grant me the honesty and integrity to be the person You want me to be. Continue to grow me and to work in and through me as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.