Integrity, the Christian’s Calling Card
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. — Nehemiah 5:14
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" — John 1:47
Author
Fanny Rodríguez
Summary: Jesus recognized Nathanael as a man without deceit. That same integrity should distinguish our lives. When we fail the Lord, we should neither conceal nor ignore what happened, but acknowledge it. Although society places more importance on credentials than on character, we are called to cultivate the character of Jesus and to guard the witness we bear at work and at home. We cannot attain the stature of Christ through our own strength; let us ask the Holy Spirit to correct, exhort, and strengthen us to live as children of God.
Philip found Nathanael and told him: We have found Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the prophets also wrote about. Nazareth! Nathanael replied. Can anything good come from there?
Come and see, Philip answered. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said: Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit. How do you know me? Nathanael asked. Before Philip called you, while you were still under the fig tree, I saw you. Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! Nathanael declared. Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see even greater things than these! And he added: Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. John 1:45–51
Did it ever happen to you that your mommy baked a cake, took it out of the oven, and set it on the table to cool before serving it? Then you or one of your siblings stuck a finger in it to taste it. When she saw the cake, she asked, “Who stuck a finger in the cake?” and he or she said, “It wasn’t me,” not realizing there was chocolate smeared around their mouth. Well, everyone laughed. But this is what we do in our walk with the Lord: we fail Him and then ignore what happened.
Unfortunately, postmodern society denies the importance of principles and values. Today, a person’s character is not important for holding a leadership position; what matters are the credentials that have prepared that person to perform the role. Yet the Bible urges us to cultivate the character of Jesus: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, becoming a mature man, attaining to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
In the passage from John, there is a dialogue between Philip, Nathanael, and the Lord. When Nathanael approached the Lord, He said: “Behold, a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” Integrity should be the quality that stands out in our lives. This is a testimony that makes an impact on a society where mediocrity, deceit, lies, and pretense prevail. Let us take care of the image of Jesus that we carry into our workplaces and homes. What will the Lord say about me when I approach Him?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, today we want to acknowledge that in our own strength we cannot attain the stature of Christ, but we ask You to have the Holy Spirit convict us, exhort us, and strengthen us to live lives worthy of being called children of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.