Do you know what real freedom is? I believe that real freedom is in having nothing to hide. Living a life of integrity allows you to have this freedom. For those of us that don't know the meaning of the word, integrity means moral soundness or purity, incorruptness or honesty. Your integrity is measured not by what you say about yourself, but by what God and people say about you. Today we are going to look at Samuel to get an understanding of what it means to be a person of integrity.
Samuel had lived all his life among the people of God. Leaders that had preceeded him were dishonest and corrupt; it would have been easy for Samuel to compromise in his dealings as well. Near the end of his life, however, Samuel could boldly stand before his nation and ask them to reveal any offense he had committed against any of them. They couldn't think of even one:
"Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you. And they said, "You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand." 1 Samuel 12:3-4.
If you learn about Samuel, you would notice that in his position of leadership, it would have been easy for him to have taken advantage of the people. However, because he carefully guarded his motives and kept his relationships blameless, Samuel could fearlessly ask the people to report if he had mistreated them in any way. I know that people think and often say that it takes courage to open your life up to the scrunity of others, but Samuel did not fear, as we should not fear, what others would say about him. Pay attention now, he did not have to avoid anyone that he had offended. Samuel had a confidence that comes from living a blameless life.
If you have mistreated others, I'm sorry, but you cannot change the past. But what you can do from this day forward, is to choose to live with absolute integrity. Living righteously frees you to face any person unashamedly, knowing that you have behaved in a Christlike manner. If your reputation is stained right now, seek forgiveness from those you have offended. Ask God to guide you daily in your relationships so that you have no regrets about your treatment of others.
May God richly bless you today!!! H Trent!
Samuel had lived all his life among the people of God. Leaders that had preceeded him were dishonest and corrupt; it would have been easy for Samuel to compromise in his dealings as well. Near the end of his life, however, Samuel could boldly stand before his nation and ask them to reveal any offense he had committed against any of them. They couldn't think of even one:
"Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you. And they said, "You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand." 1 Samuel 12:3-4.
If you learn about Samuel, you would notice that in his position of leadership, it would have been easy for him to have taken advantage of the people. However, because he carefully guarded his motives and kept his relationships blameless, Samuel could fearlessly ask the people to report if he had mistreated them in any way. I know that people think and often say that it takes courage to open your life up to the scrunity of others, but Samuel did not fear, as we should not fear, what others would say about him. Pay attention now, he did not have to avoid anyone that he had offended. Samuel had a confidence that comes from living a blameless life.
If you have mistreated others, I'm sorry, but you cannot change the past. But what you can do from this day forward, is to choose to live with absolute integrity. Living righteously frees you to face any person unashamedly, knowing that you have behaved in a Christlike manner. If your reputation is stained right now, seek forgiveness from those you have offended. Ask God to guide you daily in your relationships so that you have no regrets about your treatment of others.
May God richly bless you today!!! H Trent!
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