SOCIAL DEVIANT

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...
DATE : Saturday 4 October 2014
THEME : SOCIAL DEVIANTS!
Memorise:
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of
riot, speaking evil of you:
1 Peter 4:2
Read: Acts 17:5-9
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain
lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city
on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out
to the people.
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto
the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down
are come hither also;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of
Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard
these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them
go.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 SAMUEL 17:1-18:16 and PROVERBS 6:16-27
Message:
A Christian can be described as a little Christ. While on earth, Christ
exhibited integrity in all His utterances and actions. He said His children
would do greater works. Are you born-again? Are you a true child of God?
With self-discipline and appropriate preparation, you can become effective
in exhibiting integrity. Integrity as a way of life and our effectiveness in
every field depends on the measure of our preparation. The more prepared
we are, the more effective we become. Therefore, to become effective in
exhibiting integrity, you must be prepared.
God’s standard for His children is perfection (Matthew 5:48). It is pathetic to
note that many societies lack integrity. In a society where integrity has
become a scarce commodity, a person of integrity is sometimes seen as a
social deviant. Occasionally, efforts are made by bad elements of such
societies to neutralise his or her influence. This can be by subtle or outright
persecution, imposition of sanctions, or by a collective effort to undermine
his or her personality. History confirms however that a person of integrity is
always a winner. Why? He or she is consistent and credible. Are you a
person of integrity? Credibility defines integrity. The benefit of integrity is
confidence and the ability to influence others positively. The more credible
you are, the more confidence people place in you, thereby granting you the
privilege of influencing their lives. The contrast is also true. The less
credible you are as a person, the less confidence people place in you, and
the more quickly you lose your position of influence. Are you a Christian
leader? The secret to rising and not falling is integrity. Integrity is germane
to your success in ministry. There is no denying the fact that the more
credible you are, the longer your staying power and the more successful
your ministry will be. In the same vein, the less credible you are, the
shorter your staying power and the less successful your ministry will be.
Every leader needs integrity because it builds trust. A man must have
followers in order to be a leader. In order to have followers, a leader must
have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality of a leader is
unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether it
is in a church, on a football field, in an army barrack or in an office. If a
man’s associates find him guilty of being a phony, if they find out that he
lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. Your teachings and actions must
square up with each other. Society may see them as deviants but the first
great need of a Christian leader is integrity and high purpose. Are you
viewed as a social deviant? Don’t lose your integrity.
Key Point:
A man’s character determines the character of his organisation. Be a person
of integrity.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

Categories: Devotionals