It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day three in the ninth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Protected By Integrity

“Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.  May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.“
Psalm 25:20-21 (NIV)

Have you ever been falsely accused of something?  Did your reputation at the time help protect you from the accusations or make the accusations more believable?  What are some things that make some rumors more, or less, believable than others?  How important to you is your physical protection as you serve others?  Are you as concerned about the protection of your character?  How will serving with integrity protect your character, not only from false accusations but from the temptation to do wrong?

We probably all know someone who could be accused of almost anything and we wouldn’t believe it.  They have lived a life of integrity that requires a greater burden of proof in regard to wrongdoing than just someone’s word.  We live in a time where words fly so fast that accusations simply can’t be avoided as we serve people.  It is through our integrity that we are protected from accusations which have no basis.

As you pray, ask God to fill you with a desire to live a life of integrity.  Pray that your pursuit of God would lead you to a life that is lived with a consistency between what you say and what  you do.

In prayer,

Tom