My Devotional Transition Marked By Integrity
By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com | Image credit: pinterest.com
26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Acts 20:26-27 NIV Who can withstand the heat?
wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.”
20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, While certain parts of Europe are experiencing serious heatwaves, the political and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn temperatures in many countries also have been rising over the past few months them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be causing leaders to step down in a bid to cool temperatures. remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live Two weeks ago, the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”(Ezekiel 3:18-21) his pending resignation and will remain in office until a new party leader is elected. A few days ago Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament Consider Samuel the prophet, when he was transitioning and handing over triggering a snap election following the resignation of the country’s Prime Min- leadership to King Saul, as he delivered his farewell speech he said, “2 Now you ister Mario Draghi. Their national election will take place in September. have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand. Not forgetting the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who resigned earli- Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have er this July from his sudden exile in Singapore, a day after fleeing the country he I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I opled for nearly three years. His resignation was triggered by the civilian uprising pressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If over the island nation’s economic collapse. I have done any of these things, I will make it right.” 4 “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.” These resignations of political leaders in high office are a rare phenomena in Africa. Hardly do we see any leaders resign for any reason including ill health 5 Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is and incapacitation to serve the people. witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is witness,” they said. 1 Samuel 12:2-5 The freezing temperatures in Nairobi are not warming up to the heated debates for elective positions in the run up to Kenya’s general elections in two weeks. Also, as Jesus Christ was completing His mission here on earth, John records Transitions are inevitable and the question begs, which of these leaders can one of His prayers specifically for the disciples whom He had been mentoring withstand the heat on hot-button issues touching on integrity when the time for three years. He prayed, “I have revealed You to those whom You gave me out comes to pass on the baton? of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. 7 Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8 While we are in a season of politics, it is easier to think only about the politi- For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them. They knew with cians when matters integrity are discussed, but really, the question is for all of us; certainty that I came from You, and they believed that you sent me… 12 While when the job is done and you have to move on, could you confidently say that I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave you are innocent of any claim that may be made against you? Could you stand me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture before God and men and declare that you have completed the task assigned with would be fulfilled. John 17:6-8, 12 all integrity? From these examples from the Scripture we see speeches that are peppered with A simple definition is integrity by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary is, integrity. I am both challenged and encouraged that in whatever space God has “The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.” placed me, the tasks He has given me to do, I should I carry out them out with utmost integrity because one day, when the time comes to transition, I will need Considering the task God gave Paul, to preach to the Gentiles, what did he mean to present my report to Him. in his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:17-38 when he said, “I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you?” Could he have been thinking of God’s Word in Ezekiel 3:18-21 where God tells Ezekiel, “When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that
TT 162 | July 26th - August 1st | 2022
