Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 1 Peter 3:16
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines integrity as "the quality or state of being complete or undivided." The heart of integrity is being undivided in our allegiance and our morals and principles. When it comes to integrity in Scripture, no one besides Jesus had greater integrity than Daniel, whose excellence and devotion to God were completely unwavering and undivided.
We find in Daniel 6 that everyone around Daniel knew about his integrity. The king noticed his integrity. As a result, the king awarded him because of his excellence and "made plans to place him over the entire empire" (verse 3). Because of the attention Daniel was receiving from the king, some of the other kings' officials became jealous. They wanted to find "some fault in how Daniel was handling government affairs" (verse 4). They searched and searched, "but they couldn't find anything to criticize or condemn" (verse 4). Instead, these men found that "he was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy" (verse 4). In other words, Daniel lived with integrity. He was someone who the king and his entire administration could count on. He did everything well, and because of this, Daniel's integrity was intact.
Daniel understood the importance of being a person with integrity. This is our call, too. Peter writes in the book of 1 Peter, "Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ" (1 Peter 3:16). When we live with integrity, our consciences are clear, knowing that we can be proud of the way we lived in every area of our lives. Then, anyone who speaks against us will be put to shame. They will be unable to find anything against us, just like men in King Nebuchadnezzar's administration.
When it comes to your life, are you living with integrity? Are you honoring God in every area of your life so that your integrity impacts all areas of your life? It is time today to choose integrity in all areas of our lives, completely undivided.
Take a few moments to think about your integrity. Is anything compromising your integrity? If so, what step can you take today to maintain your integrity in that area? Take those steps beginning today. May it be said of us, like it was said of Daniel, "Our only chance in finding grounds of accusing [them] will be in connection with the rules of [their religion]."
1 Peter 3:13-22
"Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison- 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority."
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