Availability and Integrity
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. 2 Corinthians 2:17
To let Christ glorify Himself through us in a powerful way, we need availability and sincerity. Availability is an easy one. That simply has to do with our willingness to become like Christ! But alongside our willingness there must be integrity. As Paul points out to his readers, “so many” use God for selfish purposes rather than allowing God to use their lives for His purposes. Somewhere along the line there’s a pollution of purpose. Their identity cannot be used greatly. Something is worn in their character. They have not allowed Christ to penetrate fully into the depths of their lives. They are compartmentalizing in their character of “disintegrated” on the inside. Parts of these men are not totally comfortable with truth and reality, and they serve the Lord with mixed motives and unhealthy character. Behind the mask of their Christianity, they are asking” What’s in it for me?” They are peddlers, pimping Christ for their own gain. They have lost that accountability and awareness of God’s presence to guide them. You cannot trust them. Why? They lack spiritual integrity. By contrast, sincere men of God are welcomed to apply. These are the “on the contrary” squad of men wide open to God’s leadership, methods, directions, and decisions over their own. More specifically, they constantly choose those directions and methods that will give Christ the lost glory in their lives.
Simply spoken, Satan is so adept at making relationship into religion. Religion constitutes keeping score, competiveness slips in the door and relationship slips out. It’s our hearts men, it’s our hearts. Keep a tender heart toward the love the Father has for you, let that be your motivation.
Father, thank you for the peace that passes all understanding.