Son, it is not good to punish an innocent person, or to flog officials for their integrity. ~Proverbs 17:26
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ~Luke 23:47
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. ~1 Peter 3:13-18A
Okay, this Proverb is obviously advice from a king to his son, soon to be king. At least I hope so. It was just too intriguing to pass up. We’ve covered the first half of this proverb before: “Son it is not good to punish an innocent person.” We can all agree with that. It’s the second part that has set my wheels turning for today: “or to flog officials for their integrity.” Why would you flog anyone for showing integrity? I thought that they would be commended.
What king would flog a leader for having integrity? Answer: one who does not like hearing the truth. We’re probably all familiar with the phrase, “Don’t shoot the messenger.” It basically means, “I’m going to give you facts that you may not want to hear. Don’t be angry with me! I’m just the reporter.” The facts are the facts. But if the receiver doesn’t like those facts, and is ill tempered, he or she often strikes out at the messenger because they are the nearest person to rail against.
Anyone who has worked in customer service knows this very well. A dissatisfied customer often lashes out at the salesclerk or cashier when in truth, those people can do very little to change the situation and are certainly not responsible for it. They get yelled at anyway. We can remember Herod with John the Baptist. Herod did not want to hear that God disapproved of his adulterous relationship with his sister in law. Herodias liked hearing it even less and figured out a way to get John beheaded for speaking the truth.
Jeremiah received numerous abuses and punishments for speaking the truth. My heart really goes out to Jeremiah because God told him basically, “If you don’t speak the truth, you’ll have to deal with me!” He was really between a rock and a hard place. There are many in scripture who paid a high price for their integrity. The Book of Hebrews says: “Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, (possibly a reference to Isaiah), they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:35B-38).
The reason they suffered is that they stuck to the truth. Yet, they stuck to the truth because integrity was more important than alleviating their earthly suffering. Jesus was not only flogged but crucified for His integrity and more. Isn’t it interesting that the one who is given credit for noticing is the centurion? He was a Gentile military person, who recognized the abuse for what it was and is the only one who, even as an unbeliever, put words to the crime.
We are now living in an age that hates truth more than ever. I have said before that sociologists have coined this age, “The Post Truth,” age. This is worse than the post-modern age that taught relativism. That was hard enough with everyone owning their own truth, as they liked it, even if it didn’t work for you. Now, we are in an age in which it is acknowledged that there might be truth, but it is greeted with, “so what?”
Truth doesn’t move people anymore. It does not compel them to repentance. We see the media, social media, and politicians playing fast and loose with the truth and it leaves those who want to have integrity struggling to know which way to turn. Even scripture, the source of all truth, is being manipulated to say the unexpected. Those who don’t know their Bibles, or check the way it’s being used, get swept along in the heresies. What’s interesting about that is that to appeal to the Bible at all is a post truthers effort to convince you that they are right, that they know the Truth! Or else it is at least an effort to show you that you don’t really have any basis for believing the Bible is true.
We need to remember that if we are going to speak the truth, we are not necessarily going to be thanked for it. Jesus warned the disciples, His newly relabeled friends: “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) Jesus knew that this is how it would be.
This is because satan, who is the father of lies, is also the prince of this world. His whole system is based on lies and deceit. Anyone who has integrity threatens his system. We must be removed because he does not want truth to be heard. The whole post truth movement is his idea! We have been saying throughout this year that we are leaders. Hopefully, we are also leaders who desire to strive for truth and integrity.
We have to be prepared to face unpleasant consequences because, as we have already said, there are those who do not want to hear, and they will lash out at you sometimes. They prefer satan’s system and his type of power. “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
God is our witness. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am your servant.” (Psalm 116:15-16A) Remember, God is still in control. If He allows us to suffer, it is to consume our dross and help us remember to draw even closer to Him. It’s only for this lifetime, and then, eternity with Him in peace and glory. May the Truth be your banner today, held high for all to see.
Prayer: Father, I will tell the truth, according to Your Word. I will love, with gentleness and respect, those who don’t know the Truth or even hate it. I will not be angry at those who disagree with me, but with patience will hold forth as a faithful witness. Help me to examine my own beliefs and opinions carefully to agree with Your Word and change my mind when I am corrected by Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Honesty
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ~Luke 23:47
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. ~1 Peter 3:13-18A
Okay, this Proverb is obviously advice from a king to his son, soon to be king. At least I hope so. It was just too intriguing to pass up. We’ve covered the first half of this proverb before: “Son it is not good to punish an innocent person.” We can all agree with that. It’s the second part that has set my wheels turning for today: “or to flog officials for their integrity.” Why would you flog anyone for showing integrity? I thought that they would be commended.
What king would flog a leader for having integrity? Answer: one who does not like hearing the truth. We’re probably all familiar with the phrase, “Don’t shoot the messenger.” It basically means, “I’m going to give you facts that you may not want to hear. Don’t be angry with me! I’m just the reporter.” The facts are the facts. But if the receiver doesn’t like those facts, and is ill tempered, he or she often strikes out at the messenger because they are the nearest person to rail against.
Anyone who has worked in customer service knows this very well. A dissatisfied customer often lashes out at the salesclerk or cashier when in truth, those people can do very little to change the situation and are certainly not responsible for it. They get yelled at anyway. We can remember Herod with John the Baptist. Herod did not want to hear that God disapproved of his adulterous relationship with his sister in law. Herodias liked hearing it even less and figured out a way to get John beheaded for speaking the truth.
Jeremiah received numerous abuses and punishments for speaking the truth. My heart really goes out to Jeremiah because God told him basically, “If you don’t speak the truth, you’ll have to deal with me!” He was really between a rock and a hard place. There are many in scripture who paid a high price for their integrity. The Book of Hebrews says: “Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, (possibly a reference to Isaiah), they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:35B-38).
The reason they suffered is that they stuck to the truth. Yet, they stuck to the truth because integrity was more important than alleviating their earthly suffering. Jesus was not only flogged but crucified for His integrity and more. Isn’t it interesting that the one who is given credit for noticing is the centurion? He was a Gentile military person, who recognized the abuse for what it was and is the only one who, even as an unbeliever, put words to the crime.
We are now living in an age that hates truth more than ever. I have said before that sociologists have coined this age, “The Post Truth,” age. This is worse than the post-modern age that taught relativism. That was hard enough with everyone owning their own truth, as they liked it, even if it didn’t work for you. Now, we are in an age in which it is acknowledged that there might be truth, but it is greeted with, “so what?”
Truth doesn’t move people anymore. It does not compel them to repentance. We see the media, social media, and politicians playing fast and loose with the truth and it leaves those who want to have integrity struggling to know which way to turn. Even scripture, the source of all truth, is being manipulated to say the unexpected. Those who don’t know their Bibles, or check the way it’s being used, get swept along in the heresies. What’s interesting about that is that to appeal to the Bible at all is a post truthers effort to convince you that they are right, that they know the Truth! Or else it is at least an effort to show you that you don’t really have any basis for believing the Bible is true.
We need to remember that if we are going to speak the truth, we are not necessarily going to be thanked for it. Jesus warned the disciples, His newly relabeled friends: “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) Jesus knew that this is how it would be.
This is because satan, who is the father of lies, is also the prince of this world. His whole system is based on lies and deceit. Anyone who has integrity threatens his system. We must be removed because he does not want truth to be heard. The whole post truth movement is his idea! We have been saying throughout this year that we are leaders. Hopefully, we are also leaders who desire to strive for truth and integrity.
We have to be prepared to face unpleasant consequences because, as we have already said, there are those who do not want to hear, and they will lash out at you sometimes. They prefer satan’s system and his type of power. “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
God is our witness. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am your servant.” (Psalm 116:15-16A) Remember, God is still in control. If He allows us to suffer, it is to consume our dross and help us remember to draw even closer to Him. It’s only for this lifetime, and then, eternity with Him in peace and glory. May the Truth be your banner today, held high for all to see.
Prayer: Father, I will tell the truth, according to Your Word. I will love, with gentleness and respect, those who don’t know the Truth or even hate it. I will not be angry at those who disagree with me, but with patience will hold forth as a faithful witness. Help me to examine my own beliefs and opinions carefully to agree with Your Word and change my mind when I am corrected by Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Honesty
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