Day 225
OYB - August 13
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Devotional Old Testament New Testament Psalm Proverb
Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.
Integrity is the missing ingredient in many leaders today. Nehemiah, however, taught and modeled a sacrificial lifestyle that was above reproach. Although he had a right to be pampered, he refused to place a heavy burden on the people (Nehemiah 5:15). Although others had lorded it over the people, Nehemiah devoted himself to the work on the wall (v. 16). In addition, he never demanded the fine food allotted to him as governor (v. 18). He was a man of rare integrity who led by his example.

A life of integrity demands a lifestyle of accountability that involves one's money, priorities, and motives. God was so blessed by Job's integrity that He described him as "the finest man in all the earth-a man of complete integrity" (Job 2:3). In the New Testament, Peter reminded the elders not to be greedy for money, but eager to serve; not to lord it over those entrusted to them, but to be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Those you lead can tell if your heart is influenced by the work or the benefits of the work. If you aspire to leadership, seek integrity. God will be sure to make a place for you!
1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Take Care with Your Liberty

1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

7However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

Psalms 33:1-11

PSALM 33

Praise to the Creator and Preserver.

1Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming to the upright.

2Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;

Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

3Sing to Him a new song;

Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

4For the word of the Lord is upright,

And all His work is done in faithfulness.

5He loves righteousness and justice;

The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

7He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;

He lays up the deeps in storehouses.

8Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9For He spoke, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

10The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;

He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

11The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Proverbs 21:8-10

8The way of a guilty man is crooked,

But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

9It is better to live in a corner of a roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

10The soul of the wicked desires evil;

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.