Sometimes thinking about what’s next makes us short-sighted. We might be too busy preparing for our upcoming commitments that we forgot to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ and His kingdom.
Reflect on 3 things: our Responsibilities, our Actions, and our Integrity
Then read up on the story of The Four Lepers in 2 Kings 7: 3-11 (NKJV)
Take Up Responsibility
No one can make you grow spiritually except for yourself, so take up your responsibilities. Think in terms of long term goals. What we choose to do today will affect our future, even when our decisions will become history.
2 Kings 7:3-4 (NKJV) Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.”
- This happened in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Joram, the time of Prophet Elisha, and when Israel and Aram (Syria) were at war.
- The king of Aram, Ben Hadad, had laid siege to Samaria (capitol city of Israel in the north)
- The 4 men were isolated from the city due to their leprosy and there was a famine
- Their situation cannot be worse, but it was this point that the four leprous men took up their responsibilities.
Take Action
Taking responsibility over our lives or our situation is an important step and when it is followed up with actions, it brings about change in our situation. We cannot always use “not enough time” as an excuse. We can never manage time except we can only manage ourselves. So it is important that we set our priorities right and to make time for what is important. When we begin to take action and especially taking action with faith in the Lord, we will be able to witness God’s miracle.
2 Kings 7:5-8 (NKJV) And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives. And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.
- God’s miracle saved them from hunger and thirst.
Be Firm in Integrity
We have conscience that makes us feeling guilty after we have done something wrong. This conscience is from God and we are to thank God for having it – it aligns us back to the right path. And we should always be doing the right thing even when we don’t receive recognition from others, because we will receive the recognition from God. Integrity is doing the right things when nobody is looking – however God is watching and God blesses those with integrity (can be found in many verses in the bible: Psalm 41:11-13, Proverbs 2:6-8, Proverbs 20:7, Proverbs 28:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Titus 2:7-8).
2 Kings 7:9-11 (NKJV) Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, “We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound—only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact.” And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king’s household inside.
- Because of these 4 leprous men’s integrity, the whole Israel was saved.
- One interesting thing to note is that no one came out from the city to thank them, they were not being honoured and they were still suffering from leprosy and was isolated from the rest. However God takes notice of them and by the mere fact that they were recorded in the Bible, does show that they act is important.
- Sometimes being firm in integrity is not always the easiest way, but it is the right way and God blesses those with integrity.
Conclusion
Christ is coming back to separate the sheep and goats. Salvation has been secured when Christ died for us. But when HE comes back, HE is bringing gifts to rewards those who are faithful. Therefore as a church, we have to upgrade ourselves in our walk with God. So what are your reflections on your responsibilities, actions and integrity?
Don’t wait, but upgrade.