Integrity, Be Aware

I have heard that integrity is not always what you do, but what you do when no one is watching. It is important to be the same in public and in private as the demonstration of your integrity. This morning I continue my study on spiritual leadership from the Fall 2011 MasterWork series with Henry and Richard Blackaby as the writers and today is the lesson on character and integrity.

This morning I write about character and integrity as one when looking at the impact on spiritual leadership. These two items work together to define the make up of a spiritual leader. As noted above, integrity is what you do when no one is watching. What you do in those private moments between you and the LORD. Character is what people see in those public moments. So there is the correlation of the two working together to define the public and private you.

In society today, no one is completely out of the public eye. Our lives are on full display in what seems like all day, every day. Social media has made it very difficult, if not improbable to be completely private. Even if you are not the one actively utilizing the web, you will be in public and will likely be caught on someone’s camera, or audio recording at some point. This is not to say that this is a “bad” thing, but we have to be even more aware of our behavior at all times. In the past, it would have been possible to separate to some degree our public and private lives, but today, not so much.

The final two sentences of the lesson today speak to how integrity becomes so integral in our lives; “Integrity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens on purpose.” Integrity is intentional. I have to remember that I am under the microscope in my life, regardless of where I am. Yes, social media has made it difficult to keep my private life private, but there is a more important, dare I say the most important, one watching me always, GOD.

“¹⁴Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” – 2 Peter 3:14 (ESV)

We are to watch ourselves to be seen by God, the only one that matters, as striving to be blameless as Jesus was. In my public and private life, God is watching and seeing my heart to be for and about Him. I can only do so when I am filled with the Holy Spirit and showing Him for all the world to see. Showing Him in my public and private life. Being aware of my actions to ensure that I am intentional. Remembering that, “Integrity is not automatic” – Henry and Richard Blackaby.

What is your view of integrity? Are you aware that it matters and how it comes to be? What if you were to realize that it is as important in your private life as in public and that it “is not automatic” but intentional to walk like Christ?

Becoming a Spiritual Leader is a Process

Generally, a newborn does not just get up and start running around as a champion sprinter. First the child must learn to crawl, then walk, and then run. And even in each step, there is time devoted to each to get good at it. Becoming a spiritual leader is similar in that it is a process and one must gain in one and work to get good at it before moving on to the next.

The process starts with our relationship with God. We first accept Him as our Father and work to engage with Him to understand and follow where He would have us go. It is devotion to the LORD that opens our heart and soul to accept Him as our Father and know that whatever He has for us is for our continued development to the achieve the purpose He has for us.

Next, we are put on the path to develop the character needed to take on the role of spiritual leader. It is not an easy path, and it is long. As noted in another of my writings from my study of spiritual leadership, “Spiritual Leadership Takes Time”. There are no shortcuts, and just when you “figure it out” the only thing you figure out is that there is more to learn and the path is even more challenging that originally thought.

Once we have developed the character needed to take on the role of spiritual leader, we will then be entrusted with the role. But, even when we have been entrusted with the role, we are still learning and developing through the experiences we encounter daily. Those experiences will be “both good and bad” as Henry and Richard Blackaby indicate. It takes them both to round us into the spiritual leaders that God has for us to become. Even when mistakes happen, “Wise leaders allow God to make the most of their mistakes.” – Henry and Richard Blakaby.

The thing is, becoming the spiritual leader God has for me to become takes time and experience in the development of my character. Each of those are determined, according to the Blackabys, by my dedication to “trust in God and obedience to God”. Only God can give and grow in me the character He is looking for to take on the role of spiritual leader. I can take comfort in that once He selects me for the role, He will provide all that I will need to accomplish the work that He has set for me to accomplish for His glory.

What is your thoughts on becoming a spiritual leader? Are you of the camp that believes you can just start running with it? What if you knew and understood that becoming a spiritual leader is a process and you were to lean on the LORD to work you through that process?

Desire the Substance of Jesus

“²For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.”

— Isaiah 53:2 (ESV)

According to the above, Jesus was nothing astonishing to behold growing up or even as an adult. He was just a regular guy that was as noted, not of desire. Yet He was so great for us and brought us so much even at His earthly expense.

I think that it is interesting in that Jesus is portrayed as a striking and good looking man. To the eyes now, it would seem that people may have flocked to Him based to some degree on His appearance. And when I think of it, there must have been something about Him as He was recognized by the people when He was out in public view.

I know that the appearance of someone is easier to explain. And let’s face it, following someone who is not remarkably looking or visually is not the way to win people over. So to the eye, Jesus must be made to be appealing to draw us in.

But, it is not the outward appearance that we should be desiring when it comes to Jesus. His outward beauty will do nothing for us. Just like the outward beauty of man or woman is not the thing we should be drawn to. It is the substance of Jesus that we should desire.

In His ministry, Jesus was recognized in the public, not for His beauty, but for who He was. He was seen as carrying Himself different, walking different, and just being different. He was seen for His work and being and I like to believe that others could see the aura of God in Him.

I am going to make a comparison although it is not meant for anything other than the idea to help with understanding. Ever hear or see the “glow” of a woman with child. There is something about a pregnant woman that emanates a “glow”. People just know that she is different. I believe Jesus to be similar only bigger than this. There is something about Him without even knowing Him intimately that all can “see”.

This difference is the substance of Jesus and not His appearance. This is where our desire should be. We should be in desire for the substance of Jesus and not the appearance of Him.

What do you desire? Are you looking out for the appearances to desire? What if you looked to the substance of Jesus and placed your desire on His love?