Be Aa Icon For Light, Truth, And Integrity

Brothers…our character…who we represent, Jesus---and what we represent---His Kingdom, is decided in our heart before we encounter our many decision moments every day. My actions, my conduct, must be pre-decided…otherwise we are tossed to and fro, by every wind of doctrine, like in a storm at sea. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8.

Let’s look at Mark 12:13-17. Briefly, here is the scenario…the Chief Priests who are really smart guys, are plotting to set a trap for Jesus and “catch him in His words”. Let’s read verse 14-17. Two critical points here (1) Jesus, our consummate model in all matters, gives us a pre-recorded training brief on responding with our heart vs reacting with our emotions. (2) Jesus uses the “image” on the coin of Caesar, to dismiss them into silence.

I find it very instructive that the Greek word for image is eikon. So, we encounter these little icons all day every day, and we recognize them for what they represent. As men, we must be icons for truth, icons for integrity and icons for trust for everyone to recognize, especially our families…just like the Pharisees recognized Caesar on the coin Jesus showed them. Matthew 5:14-16

As Christian men, we need a code to live by and a personal, conscious desire to be transformed into the image of Christ, to be Jesusesque in all our roles in life. We must capture the masculine, God-given DNA and ride it towards, not away from the adventure, the danger, and the challenges that we will encounter and confront in 2023. We must not be “call- dodgers” of our calling as husbands, as fathers, as brothers in Christ, but rather men of integrity.

Integrity means whole, complete and undivided…remember from math class that an integer is a whole number? King David prayed for instruction and an undivided heart in Psalm 86:11 and “may integrity and uprightness protect me” in Psalm 25:21. David was a warrior and understood the protective qualities of body armor. In combat and in law enforcement we wore Kevlar body armor. Integrity, is indeed, spiritual kevlar and it will protect your very life, your testimony, and those you love and care about.

Barney Barnes, 08-21-2023, Warrior Spirit Ministries