Faithful: Leaving a Legacy of Integrityنموونە

Day 3: Truth and Confidence

Integrity is noticed by men through external actions but is seen by God when we align with His heart and choose to live by the truth of His Word. Faithfulness requires steadfast loyalty, not easily swayed. It is a confident hope that we place in our Father God that produces faithfulness in us as we love and trust Jesus no matter what we face.

Jesus modeled the best example of integrity and faithfulness. Immediately after God publicly declared Jesus was His Son, with whom He was well pleased, even though his ministry had not yet begun, he was led to the desert where Satan took the opportunity to challenge his identity and purpose.

When Jesus was faced with hunger, fatigue, and weakness, the tempter began to twist the scripture in an attempt to cause Jesus to neglect his true identity and look out for himself. Have you noticed greater times of temptation when you are hungry, tired, or weak?

But Jesus knew the truth of who he was, and he was confident in the mission and purpose he would accomplish. He was sent into the world to destroy the works of the devil. He was God’s son who came to save mankind from sin’s wrath and to restore us back to our relationship with the Father because of His great love for us.

He knew his identity, had faithfully walked in it, and with each step, others had begun to witness his integrity. The Holy and Righteous One endured the 40 days in the desert and stayed true to his character, speaking the truth of God’s Word, which caused Satan to depart from his presence. In the process, he remained faithful to his Father and to his mission. Then, he pressed on. Full of faith and Holy Spirit power, Jesus completed all he came to accomplish.

In applying the model we’ve inherited from Jesus, can you think of ways to walk confidently in the truth of God’s Word? How might you prepare to resist temptations? Can you imagine situations where living by truth, in good character, and keeping confidence with others could cause them to witness your integrity and be inspired to want to live like you — like Jesus in you?

Jesus taught us the importance of remaining in close communion with the Father. Through prayer and practicing the presence of God through the Word, we receive help from the Holy Spirit who dwells within our hearts.

He gives the children of light and day the power to stand firm, resist temptations, and follow in the footsteps of his Son. We are instructed to stay alert and self-controlled, wearing faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. In this way, as co-heirs with Jesus, we will remain in truth and confidence until the day of his return.

As the generational lines of the body of Christ continue to grow longer, may God’s family heritage of love and faithfulness endure in and through us forever.

Prayer:

Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ that we as your children would grow in love, faithfulness, and confidence in the truth that dwells within us until we meet Jesus face to face.