Lent
– Day 33 – During this season of Lent what are you willing to sacrifice from
your life, attitude and habits to become more like Jesus?
Sensible people keep their eyes glued on
wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. Proverbs
17:24
Oh those wandering eyes—they’ll get you
into trouble every time. Don’t be led astray by foolish things or let your eyes
be blinded.
You must never twist justice or show
partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and
corrupt the decisions of the godly. Deuteronomy 16:19
We have a wonderful friend, once a
missionary in South Africa and Kenya, who is one of the most ethical people we
know. His strong character would not allow him to offer a bribe in Africa
whenever the nationals wanted money for favors or travel passage. When my
husband Jerry went with Denzil and a few other people from our church to Peru
on a Work and Witness Missions Trip, primarily to show the “Jesus” film, Denzil
was again confronted with government or transportation officials demanding that
a bribe be paid. Denzil stood his ground. Never
accept or provide money for a bribe. That is the level of integrity that
Denzil set as his standard—it is God’s standard. He is a wise and sensible
person whom my husband and I admire. We haven’t been challenged like Denzil to
be tested with a bribe demand, but everyone has daily challenges to their
integrity. Will you make it through that intersection on the yellow light? Was
the change I received back too much? Is that person flirting with me? Should I
laugh at that offensive joke at the water cooler? What encounter have you
endured that tested your integrity? Were you sensible and kept God’s wisdom in
your mind to strengthen you against temptation?
Prayer
~ Lord God, help me keep my eyes focused on Your wisdom—on Your values and Your
will that my character would become more like Jesus every day as I live to
please You.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT)
unless otherwise noted.
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