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REFLECTION

Leading with integrity, following with insight! is the theme for our reflection. Integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Insight is the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something. In today’s Scripture reading, we observe that an old prophet in Bethel, the Northern Kingdom misled the man of God or prophet sent to deliver God’s message to King Jeroboam concerning his idol worship. The prophet or man of God from Judah, the Southern Kingdom was instructed by God that “You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’” (1 Kings 13:17) However, the man of God from Judah, allowed himself to be misled by the old prophet in Bethel when he said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him.” (1 Kings 13:18). Consequently, the man of God from Judah returned with the old prophet from Bethel and did that which was forbidden by God, for this reason, “as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back. (The word of the Lord came to Him forcefully) And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.” (1 Kings 13:20-22) Truly, he never got to Judah, “after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body. (1 Kings 13:23-24)

Dear friend in the Lord, the old prophet from Bethel failed to be honest or speak the truth to the man of God from Judah, therefore, he did not lead the man of God from Judah with integrity. He had to lie to the man of God from Judah under the pretence of hearing the voice of God which indicated that he returned to eat and drink at the very place he was instructed not to go. The prophet or man of God from Judah believed the old prophet from Bethel because he said “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. (1 Kings 13:18) Beloved in the Lord, we find ourselves in a similar dispensation where the integrity of some men and women of God is being greatly challenged or questioned because of their conduct and utterances which stand directly opposite the Word of God. Many people are now being misled because they believe the lies being told to them in the name of Christianity. We have discovered in today’s reflection that not all prophets, pastors, evangelists and people who find themselves in Christian leadership have integrity. Some enrich themselves and gain attention, publicity and followers through dishonesty and lies. They play on the emotions and frustration of people who yearn for instant answers or miracles to their needs or problems or wish to have a personal relationship with God. We must be watchful or vigilant lest we shall be misled by charlatans or Christian leaders who lack integrity.

On the other hand, if the man God from Judah had had insight he would not have followed the old prophet from Bethel who was without integrity. The questions the man of God from Judah should have reflected on for insight and guidance are: Does God contradict Himself? How can the same God who has instructed me not to eat and drink in Bethel instruct me through another person to do the very things He had forbidden? Why does God not speak to me concerning the same instruction He has hitherto given me but decides to speak to me through someone else? Dear friend, we must not sheepishly follow every instruction given to us by men and women of God, we must follow or obey their teachings and revelations with insight. We can only have insight when we are consistent with prayer and Bible study and follow the teachings and perfect examples of our Lord Jesus Christ. John admonishes us that “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) Christian leaders and followers will lack integrity and insight respectively if they fail to follow the true teachings of Christ, other instructions given by God in Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God, deliver the Church from Christian leaders without integrity and grant insight to all believers through the study and knowledge of your Word and the guidance of Your Spirit. Amen