SUSTAINED INTEGRITY… It’s a big deal!
Some people exercise integrity intermittently … when others are watching, periodically, when things are going well, or when it’s convenient or easy. It’s quite another thing to exhibit “sustained integrity!”
Job exhibited “SUSTAINED INTEGRITY!” The Lord’s confidence in Job’s faith and character is again confirmed. First Satan destroyed everything precious to Job – his possessions and even killed his children (check out Job 1:6-22). Now, however, Satan is permitted to attack him physically with pain. And he maintained his integrity even in the face of his wife’s frustrated advice!
“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lordsaid to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? HE STILL HOLDS FAST HIS INTEGRITY, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.’ Then Satan answered the Lordand said, ‘Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ IN ALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN WITH HIS LIPS!” (From Job 2:1–10 ESV)
With the Lord’s help and empowerment, I want to be like Job – exhibiting SUSTAINED INTEGRITY!
Coffee With The Lord 