Integrity

Ø It pleased Darius to appoint one hundred and twenty satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” So the administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said, “O king Darius, live forever!” The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisors and governors have all agreed the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man, during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. So, king Darius put the decree in writing.” Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened to Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree, “Did you not publish a decree saying that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, should be thrown into the lions den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ~Daniel 6:1-12

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How would your friends describe your reputation? Okay, how would your enemies describe it? You can know just how solid or flimsy your reputation is by what your enemies or rivals (If you have any) say about you. Even Daniel’s enemies couldn’t tarnish his reputation—it was that good! The worst “crime” they could pin on him was being a man of prayer! Daniel’s integrity kept him safe from harm (even later in the lions’ den). Would someone “accuse” you of having integrity?

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Bits and Pieces

Don’t underestimate what you, as one person, can do. God will work through anyone who is submitted to him—of any age—to accomplish His will on earth. Just go and look what Moses discovered: if one man or woman is willing to obey God, it can change the destiny of millions.

Love Always and Forever,

Cassandra Falun