Mark Sorensen A minister, late for a meeting located in a busy downtown office complex, parked his car in a no-parking zone because he was short on time and couldn’t find any available places to park. Before he rushed into his meeting, he put a note under the windshield wiper that read, “I have circled the block 10 times. If I don’t park here, I will miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses.” After the minister’s meeting was finished, he came back to his car to see that his note was gone and, instead, replaced with a citation given by a police officer. On the citation, the following was written: “I’ve circled this block for 10 years. If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation.”
Loved that story.
Integrity is everything, and little compromises here and there can lead to big shifts that – if we’re not careful – can get us all into a whole lot of trouble. And hasn’t this been the theme in Daniel? Daniel’s story in the Old Testament has been one of consistency and encouragement reminding us all that we are never alone.
Where we set our face is important, and we must never forget that – even in the midst of the fiery trials and the lions’ den – there is another in the fire… there is someone who stands beside us when the devil is on the prowl.
A list I had intended to share in last week’s message got cut because of time, but I wanted to pass this one along to you. Not sure who the author was, but I thought it made a pretty great list of qualities that make up integrity and who modeled them in Scripture.
May we all seek out these qualities and live as examples that point people to the love of God at work in our lives! Most importantly? May God be given the glory.
Amen!
