We are through 13 weeks of the NFL season and have a good understanding of the top teams. Separating themselves as the best (with at least nine wins) include the Bills, Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Vikings. These are the teams that have proven they have elite talent, will most likely make the playoffs, and are poised to make a deep run. They may have an off-game here or there, but these teams have shown consistency along with reliable quarterback play. However, many teams are a little tougher to figure out. At this point, do we know who the Titans are after an 0-2 start that was followed up with five straight wins, a loss, two straight wins, and two straight losses? What about the 7-4-1 Giants? They beat bad teams like the Bears, Texans, and Jaguars, but lost to the Cowboys and Lions and tied with the Commanders. What do we make of the up-and-down teams like the Packers, Lions, and Jets? At one point, the Packers won three straight, then lost five straight before beating the Cowboys, then lost two in a row, and then beat the Bears. One week the Jets beat the Bills, but the next game they lost to the Patriots. What do we make of that? Do we think the 7-5 Seahawks are for real considering their only win against a team that has a winning record at this point is the Giants? Have the 5-7 Raiders turned it around now that they’ve won three straight? The Ravens are 8-4, but recently lost a bad game to the Jaguars, barely beat the Broncos last week, and now Lamar Jackson is injured. Where do we stand with them? I don’t know what to think about many of these teams! Who of these teams are for real? Although we have a good grasp on many of the teams at the top of the standings, countless teams have confused us by playing differently depending on the week. Of course, some of it is based on matchups, but it’s hard to truly know how good or bad certain teams are because they’ve been inconsistent. While appearing one way earlier in the year and then surprising us by showing us something different later on, we don’t know what to think about them. At this point, we don’t genuinely know if we can trust them. Based on all of this, the question to unpack today is whether or not we confuse people by the way we live depending on the week. I’m specifically talking about our integrity and living with the same principles and obedience to God regardless of the day. Are we living Holy lives that are set apart from the rest of the world, not perfect, but consistent and trustworthy? Do our words and actions line up? Are we different based on how we feel or who we’re around…or are we consistent and reliable? Are we up and down like a 6-6 team...or steady with our identity clearly defined in Christ? Do our beliefs translate into how we come across to people or are they left wondering, “I don’t know what to think about them?” Do we come across as loving God one week and the next week act in a way that is dishonoring to Him and misleading to others? Unfortunately, we’re going to let people down at times and have “off games,” but as followers of Jesus, we should be convincing, sincere, and genuine in who we are. We want to be trusted and our integrity to be unquestioned instead of keeping people guessing about who we truly are and what we’re all about. This requires us to live Spirit-filled, reliant on Christ transforming us and empowering us. The following two verses capture the essence of what our goal should be as we seek to honor God and consistently follow Jesus each day: “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you” (2 Corinthians 1:12; NLT). “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8; ESV). I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to be a light in this world and stand out because of the way I love people and represent You. I need Your grace and power to help me live with integrity and honor. I don’t want to be inconsistent and unreliable and always up and down. Please help me to live in a way that brings glory to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. Why is integrity so important and how do you develop it? 2. What areas of your life do you find yourself being up and down and confusing people with your behavior?
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