Unshakable Character and Integrity

 

But Daniel was determined not to compromise his [character and integrity] by eating the food and drinking the wine given to him by the king.

Daniel 1:8


 

UNSHAKABLE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY

 

Daniel was a young man living in a foreign land, surrounded by a culture that did not honor God. Taken into Babylonian captivity at around 15 years old, Daniel was presented with an opportunity to conform—to eat the king’s food, enjoy the privileges of palace life, and blend into a new identity. However, Daniel made a bold decision at a pivotal moment in his life. He resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself. He refused to compromise his convictions, character, and integrity, even though it could cost him his position or even his life. Because of Daniel’s unrelenting obedience and commitment to God, God showed him favor and gave him influence in the culture and with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel’s unwavering commitment to God is a powerful reminder and example of what it means to be a person of character, integrity, and principle. He was not afraid of the consequences because he feared God more than he feared man. He did not bow to cultural expectations or political pressure, but he stood firm in his faith. He knew that honoring God was far more important than pleasing the most powerful king on earth.

Listen Closely: In today’s world, whether you’re in business or athletics, you face similar pressures. You face temptations to compromise your faith for acceptance, comfort, power, pleasure, position, or success. Like Daniel, you must resolve in your heart to remain faithful to God, even when it’s unpopular or difficult. You must choose to be a “God-pleaser,” not a “man-pleaser.”

When you stand firm in your convictions, God strengthens you, gives you favor, increases your influence, and uses you for His glory. Daniel’s integrity led to divine wisdom, supernatural protection, and a powerful testimony that still inspires believers today. I encourage you to be like Daniel: choose to live with unwavering faith and honor God above all else. Maintain your character and integrity.

Live in the culture of America, but don’t allow the culture of America to live in you.

 

Be Worth Being.

Love God.  Love People.  Live Sent.

Kevin

 


Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 44 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper – When the Son Sets You Free

 

And it came about soon afterwards, that He began going about from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God; the twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…

Luke 8:1-2


 

WHEN THE SON SETS YOU FREE

 

When we are first introduced to Mary Magdalene, she is serving Jesus’ ministry in total freedom. She and the other women—no one knows the exact number—are working and sharing what they earn with Jesus and the disciples to fund His ministry. Mary Magdalene (MM) is walking in the light, serving Jesus, with no thought of the PERFECT darkness that she had been freed from, because “when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36). We are not told how Jesus did it. If we believe the scriptures in relation to the freeing of the disciples from their darkness, or the freeing of the demon-possessed epileptic, or the demoniac, or the blind man, or the deaf man, or the dead girl, or the bleeding woman, or the Roman soldier’s servant, we see that Jesus simply spoke to the seven demons and they left her. As we discovered yesterday, darkness only ceases to exist when it is replaced with light. PERFECT LIGHT casts out the darkness so that there is not even a hint of shadow that remains. That is Jesus! Let’s take a look at James 1:17: “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

If you find yourself in darkness, or even a shifting shadow, and Jesus is your Savior, then lift up your eyes to the Father of Lights, where there is no darkness, no shadow, no doubt, or fear—there is only the peace that comes from being in the presence of PERFECT illumination. Focus on His Light, and the darkness cannot remain in your life. This was me for about four years of my Christian life, as I watched my late wife slowly die after 20 years of illness. I was in darkness because I refused to lift my eyes to look at Jesus, the Light of the World. Why? Because I was mad at Him for not healing her. (I wanted to say “pissed at Him,” but thought it inappropriate.) But God, in His gentle mercy, reached out to me and filled me with hope, contentment, and—light. He welcomed His prodigal son home, and He will do the same for you, regardless of the circumstance that separated you from Him in the first place.

If Jesus is not yet your Savior, but you feel the Holy Spirit drawing you to Him (you know what it feels like :), then submit your darkened will to His enlightened plan for you (Ephesians 2:10): “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Join with Mary Magdalene in her joyful walk of service, ministering on behalf of Jesus to a lost world stumbling through the darkness.

I promise you, your life is about to change in unimaginable and glorious ways. Walking in the light is so much better than walking in darkness. I know! I’ve done both!

In tomorrow’s Digging Deeper, we will look at the devotion of an enlightened servant!

He loves you so much forever!

 


 

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!

Digging Deeper – From Darkness to Freedom

 

And it came about soon afterwards, that He began going about from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God; the twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…

Luke 8:1-2


 

FROM DARKNESS TO FREEDOM

 

Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus had healed from the possession of seven demons, was in PERFECT darkness. So, what is the difference between darkness and PERFECT darkness? And why is it important? Well, because seven is considered the perfect number in scripture. God created the heavens and the earth in six days. It took Him six days to create everything we can experience with our senses, and on the seventh day, God rested. Seven days in total, and it was PERFECT.

I believe that Mary found herself in seven levels of torment, seven levels of despair, and seven levels of hopelessness. Where Mary Magdalene was, there was no light at all. She was in PERFECT darkness, and it was seven levels deep.

Another lifetime ago, when I was in college, I spent a summer as a Soda Ash miner in Lyman, WY, as a Jack-Leg Operator on a mining crew. We were 1,500 feet underground for 10 hours straight, drilling holes for dynamite to make tunnels in the Soda Ash layers of rock. Hey, it paid a LOT better than working at the hometown pool, and I needed the money. We had lights strung up to help us, as well as a battery-powered lamp on our helmets… just in case. One day, “just in case” happened, and the lights/power went out. All we had were our helmet lamps for light. This was fine until the batteries that powered those lamps started to go out, one by one. When the last headlamp went out, we were in PERFECT darkness. There was no inkling of light anywhere. Our eyes never adjusted because there was nothing for them to adjust to. We were in an “absence of light” environment, and we were scared (at least I was). Darkness this complete can only be described, by me at least, as foreboding and evil, in a sense. I knew my Savior was there with me, but I could not see Him in His creation (see Romans 1), so I could not see HIM. All I could do was listen.

I believe that Mary was in PERFECT darkness spiritually. There was NO light in her existence because she was literally dead in her sin, and the seven demons were there to remind her of her decaying soul. She did not yet know Jesus, so there was no hope to listen for. Sound familiar?

I have been there, in the darkness, where all I can hear is the sound of demons tormenting me about my sin. Have you? Are you there now? Do you feel hopeless in such a way that makes you believe the light will never shine again in your life?

If that is where you find yourself, I have GREAT news for you! God will not waste the pit you are experiencing. The light came and will shine on you just like He did with Mary. Perfect darkness will be replaced with PERFECTION, which is light indescribable, even the Light of the World.

In tomorrow’s Digging Deeper, we will talk about just how and why the light will shine.

He loves you so much forever!


 

Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!

Digging Deeper – Love Story

 

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:36-39; 47-48 (NLT)


 

LOVE STORY

 

This week, we’ve been taking a closer look at the story of the woman condemned to death, but another similar exchange happened between Jesus and the Pharisees. Like the story in John 8, this account also involved a woman whose reputation preceded her.

In both stories, the Pharisees are mired in their self-righteousness. They have a penchant for identifying the sins of others but are oblivious to their own need for a Savior. However, the immoral woman anointing Jesus’ feet has found new life in her Savior. In fact, Jesus comments that she loves much because she has been forgiven much.

In yesterday’s devotional, I shared that we don’t truly know what became of the woman caught in adultery. However, we can be certain that her encounter with Jesus left her a changed woman. Jesus’ grace quite literally gave her “new life,” as she had been condemned to death by the Pharisees.

If you have been on the receiving end of mercy and grace, you know how it tends to heighten your compassion and love for others. When you’ve experienced brokenness and walked through the painful restoration process, your vision for others becomes clearer.

Conversely, if you have been forgiven little—or if you’ve fooled yourself into thinking you’re perfect—you extend that same measure of love and compassion to others.

Sandwiched between the two excerpts from Luke 7 above is an exchange between Jesus and the man who invited Him to his home:

41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said.

Forgiveness opens the door to living with open hands and an open heart. The best news is that Jesus has already forgiven you. When you recognize that you owe a debt you could never repay and accept His gift of new life, your story is given a new chapter—and an eternally joyful ending.

 


C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.

Digging Deeper – New Life in Christ

 

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”  

John 8:10-11 (NLT)


 

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

 

Jesus has saved the woman—quite literally. In an attempt to trap Him, these men brought the woman and likely hurled her at Jesus’ feet, throwing the Law in His and the woman’s face. They were daring Jesus to step in and speak blasphemy. But Jesus was light-years ahead of them. He flipped the script and sent them on their way.

Now, it’s just the woman and Jesus. She is humiliated—alive, yes, but ashamed.

He reminds her that no one has condemned her. She has escaped the throes of death. But Jesus doesn’t leave it there. He presses in. I imagine He looks her in the eyes and, with compassion in His voice, plainly tells her, “Go and sin no more.”

Jesus doesn’t pardon the sin or make light of it. He knows her heart was hardened before she was caught, but now it has softened because of the mercy and grace He has shown. This is not just a teaching moment—it’s a life-altering moment.

We don’t know what became of the woman. We aren’t sure if she heeded Jesus’ words or became one of His followers. But at this point in the story, we must insert ourselves. We all have the opportunity to experience new life through the redemptive power of Christ’s love.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

The power of sin is diminished when we abide in our “newness” in Christ.

Paul implored the Christians in Ephesus to remember why they originally turned their lives over to Jesus:

“But that is not how you came to know Christ, assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” —Ephesians 4:20-24 (CSB)

How about you? Are you still trying to put on the “old self” and live apart from your Savior? If you’re one of His children, be reminded that the old version of you no longer exists! Embrace your new life in Christ and the freedom He bought for you on the cross!

 


C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.

Digging Deeper – The Cry for Justice

 

10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

John 8:10-11 (NLT)


 

THE CRY FOR JUSTICE

 

In my formative years, I loved watching professional wrestling on TBS. I remember Gordon Solie and, later, Tony Schiavone on the mic each week as the best wrestlers paraded out and got the crowd riled up. There were “good guys”—known as “babyfaces”—and “bad guys”—known as “heels.” Of course, I always rooted for the good guys. I was particularly enamored with wrestlers like Tommy “Wildfire” Rich, Mr. Wrestling No. 1 and 2, and The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.

There were some memorable bad guys as well—The Iron Sheik, Super Destroyer, Roddy Piper, and Abdullah the Butcher. But one bad guy took the cake: The Nature Boy, Ric Flair. I mean, I despised him—flaunting his long golden locks and strutting around in his flashy, full-length robes. Flair was known for his devastating finishing move, the Figure Four. If he locked his opponent in that hold, it was over.

All bad guys like Ric Flair were merciless in the ring. Worse, they would cheat when the referee wasn’t looking—choking a guy on the ropes or sneaking in an extra stomp to his forehead. But on those rare occasions when Flair’s opponent had the upper hand, he would beg for mercy. He would crouch low, hands spread wide, head shaking from side to side, pleading to be spared. Often, the good guy would relent—because, well, he was a good guy. And that would lead to his downfall, as Flair would seize the moment and make him pay. But there were also those times when the good guy—urged on by the roaring crowd—didn’t fall for it and instead delivered an elbow between the eyes. And the crowd went wild.

We’re often the same way. We want to see “the bad guy” get what’s coming to him. In this story, the “bad guy” is the woman caught in adultery. The mob gathers to see her punished—to see justice served. Jesus gives the Pharisees an answer to their challenge:

“OK. Go ahead. But the first stone must be thrown by the man who has no sin.”

But after Jesus stuns her accusers, they skedaddle, leaving only the two of them.

The man without sin—the only one who can condemn this woman—chooses instead to offer grace. Jesus becomes the rescuer in the bleakest moment of her life.

Are you eager to see others “get theirs,” or are you on the lookout for opportunities to show grace to hurting souls? You just might be the rescuer someone needs at the bottom of their pit.

 


C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.

The Team Jersey

 

So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:17


 

THE TEAM JERSEY

 

It’s that time of year again—the 2025 high school and college baseball seasons are beginning. For college programs, players have signed their National Letter of Intent to play for various teams across America. They have exchanged their high school jerseys for their new college jerseys.

In life, we also have a spiritual decision to make regarding which team we will commit to: God’s team or Satan’s team. There is no in-between. Saul chose to be on God’s team—and that choice marked a radical transformation in his life.

In sports, putting on a team jersey signifies commitment and belonging. Following Jesus means changing our “team jersey” to represent allegiance to an audience of One. Saul’s transformation in Acts 9:17 highlights the importance of being part of a team. He went from opposing Jesus to being one of His strongest advocates—and he didn’t hesitate!

Being a team player in God’s family means loving, supporting, encouraging, growing together, and working toward the same mission: spreading the Gospel! Ananias played a crucial role in welcoming Saul to the team, just as we are called to make disciples who make disciples.

Listen closely: Just as there is a moment when you experience a physical birth, there must be a moment in your life when you experience a spiritual birth—when you accept Christ and put on His jersey. That transformation is life-changing, shifting you from a self-centered life to one that serves God, serves people, and lives with purpose.

The question is…

What “Team Jersey” Are You Wearing?

 

Be Worth Being.

Love God.  Love People.  Live Sent.

Kevin

 


Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 44 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper – Drop Your Weapon

 

Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

John 8:6b-9 (NLT)


 

DROP YOUR WEAPON

 

It seems that society has always had an insatiable appetite for gossip, celebrity headlines, scandals, and sensationalized news stories. We’ve had The National Enquirer, The Jerry Springer Show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians (and every other reality show with Housewives in the title), and, more recently, TMZ. Shows and publications like these survive because of our consumption—plain and simple.

But long before tabloids and sleazy TV, humans still found ways to elevate themselves and degrade others without the benefit of media. In this case, it was spearheaded by those regarded as the Jewish spiritual leaders of the day—the Pharisees. These proud men were blind to their own misgivings and got a perverse thrill out of watching others suffer in shame, sometimes even to the point of death. Or maybe both.

In His omniscience, Jesus saw through the façade. He knew their true intentions, and He knew the perfect weapon to send them running back home: a mirror.

Have you ever found yourself taking satisfaction in someone else’s name being dragged through the mud? If so, I encourage you to pull out the same mirror Jesus used to show the Pharisees how they had come up short. We can become so caught up in artificially elevating ourselves and inflating our pride that our hearts grow calloused—just like those of the men condemning the woman caught in adultery.

Many theologians believe that when Jesus was writing in the dust, He was revealing deeply personal, incriminating details about each of these men—details only He would know. And before long, the woman and Jesus were the only ones left.

As you begin or continue your day, ask the Lord for a soft, compassionate heart. And pray that you can drop your rocks before someone ever has to point out where you’ve missed the mark.

 


C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.

Digging Deeper – Stone Cold Hearts

 

As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him…

John 8:3-6a (NLT)


 

STONE COLD HEARTS

 

As I read stories like this one, I wonder what role I might have played if I were in the narrative. Would I be the “sinner” (defendant), or would I be the “jury”? Or would I play the part of the judge?

If I am honest, I’ve been in all three seats at one time or another in my own story—none of them enviable roles. At times, I have been the offender. Other times, I’ve pleaded for “justice” or “punishment” for someone who sinned against me or a loved one. And, on rare occasions, I’ve sat in the Chief Justice seat with my kids, delivering judgment on offenses both big and small.

But as I close my eyes and try to visualize how this series of events transpired, I can only wonder what this woman was feeling as she faced certain death. Nowhere in this scene do we hear her speak up to defend herself. After all, she was literally caught in the act of adultery. She had no defense to offer. However, she had a Defender—a Savior—who cared for her more deeply than even her sins could take her.

What’s even more striking to me is the callousness of this woman’s accusers. Not only did they take her from the scene of her sin (they were likely staking out the place, knowing she would be there), but their true motives were revealed when they arrived at the temple. Their real goal was to trap Jesus.

“What could he possibly say or do to save this woman from death? If he speaks against the Law, we’ve got him!”

The problem from the outset with these men was that they had blinders on their own hearts. And at times, so do we. We can become so focused on the wrongs others are committing that we fail to see the chinks in our own armor.

Where are you in this story? You may not have committed adultery, and you likely haven’t dragged someone to their imminent death. But you and I can find ourselves in both capacities—offender and condemner. And it’s not until the eyes of our hearts are opened that we see our brokenness and find a Savior who loves us enough to step into the story and give us a new life.


C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.

Digging Deeper – No Failure is Final

 

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)


 

NO FAILURE IS FINAL

Have you ever faced a setback so big that you thought it was the end? Maybe you’ve made a mistake so huge that it feels like there’s no way forward. In those moments, it’s easy to think that our failures define us, that we’ve reached a point of no return. But with Jesus, no failure is fatal.

In our devotionals this week, we’ve looked at the journey of Peter, who denied Jesus three times during the most crucial moments of Jesus’ life. After that failure, Peter could have given up. He could have believed that his mistake disqualified him from serving God. Instead, Jesus met Peter with grace and restoration. After His resurrection, Jesus didn’t cast Peter aside; He restored him and gave him a new mission. Peter went on to become one of the most influential leaders in the early church, showing us that failure is never the end when Jesus is involved.

This is the message for you today: Don’t give up. God isn’t finished with you! Failure may feel overwhelming, but it’s never the end of the story. Just as Jesus restored Peter, He wants to restore you. God’s plan for your life is bigger than any mistake you’ve made, and He is committed to carrying His work in you to completion.

Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God is at work in us, and He will continue His work until it is finished. His plans for us are not interrupted by our failures; they are refined and shaped through them. Failure might slow us down or redirect us, but with God, it is never the end. He uses our mistakes as part of His beautiful redemption story.

So, if you’re feeling like you’ve hit a wall or that your failure has defined you, remember: God is still writing your story. His grace is bigger than your failure, and His love is deeper than your mistakes. With Jesus, you can always get back up. Keep trusting, keep pressing forward, and know that God isn’t finished with you. He is still at work, and your best days are ahead.

 


Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.