Wisdom For The Day Devotional 16 May 2025 By Bishop Mike Okonkwo – Be A Person Of Integrity
TOPIC: Be A Person Of Integrity (TREM Devotional 16 May 2025)
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 KJV)
MESSAGE:
Beloved, I want to encourage you to be a person of integrity. Integrity is an open cheque that brings honour. It is expected of a Christian to embody good character that breeds trust. The least a Christian should be, is “Christ-like”: embodying the characteristics and attributes of Jesus Christ, the One whose nature and life we have taken up. So, when a Christian lacks integrity and fails to demonstrate traits that align with the person and nature of Christ, then he/she is not living out their true nature. Why should a Christian be involved with financial corruption, and other negative vices such as we see in the world today? It is rather sad, how much of the world we see in church today, such that certain things are no longer considered sacred. Abnormalities have been normalized and should one choose to stand for righteousness, then he/she is ill-treated and ostracized, as filth.
Child of God, evil will never become good, however you spin it. Evil is always evil. Do not join the bandwagon of those who attribute their wrong-doings to pressure, and in some cases, justify their evil acts. Irrespective of the pressure, you have a nature that is your life. As I’ve always said, it does not matter the drought in the jungle, a lion will never eat grass. Why? Because he is not wired to do so – it is alien to his nature: his DNA! That is what is called breaking out. That is how to stand out among equals.
According to the scriptures, Daniel refused to defile himself. Not only in this instance, but also when it affected his prayer life. Despite their conspiracy, he remained true to who he was, knowing full well what the consequences would be. Daniel was a man of integrity; in a good way, he was predictable – you already knew his stance, when it came to God. Prior to now, no one had ever survived the lion’s den, yet he defied the king’s order and prayed unto his God three times daily.
Daniel knew God to be his source, reason why he refused to allow whatever plans his conspirators had made, to deter him from his devotion to God. As a man of integrity who understood his nature, Daniel esteemed his relationship with God above all else, including his life. As such, for the first time, a man’s voice was heard in the den of lions. The lions were hungry, but they could not eat Daniel because his God delivered him. His integrity paid off. Be a person of integrity.
FURTHER READING
Daniel 1:8-20; 6:1-24
DAILY BIBLE READING
Morning- 2 Kings 24-25; Evening- John 5:1-24
Wisdom For The Day Devotional was written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.
