“May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. . . . May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!” 1 SAMUEL 24:12, 15 (NLT)

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Between what a person can do and should do, there is a choice. Character is revealed in the choice made.

Integrity is displayed when a person has the opportunity to take something of great value and refuses to do so.

David Before He Was King had the opportunity to kill the man who sought his life, who stood in the way of him becoming king, who gave his wife to another man. The man who mercilessly chased David around from one hiding place to another with murderous intent was vulnerable and at David’s mercy.

In that moment of opportunity, David had a choice. He could trust God and let him end Saul’s story according to his own plan and Saul’s own choices, or he could begin his reign with treachery and assassination. Character demanded David trust God to do what only God should do. Integrity required David to leave in God’s hands what belonged to God alone.

There is an advocate more powerful and more righteous than any judgment we could ever render. David trusted that advocate. David trusted God’s heart, God’s judgment, and God’s timing. David stayed out of God’s way. David’s character and integrity sent his tormentor home in tears (vv. 16-21).

We often have the opportunity to win the moment and to lose everything else. David chose Door Number Two. Instead of agreeing with the counsel which said, “Let’s get this over with,” David chose the higher, harder, more righteous path.

We make choices every day which reveal our character, demonstrate our integrity, and display our sense of what is truly, deeply right. What we choose breathes life — or death. We inspire others toward the good, or we exhale some measure of injustice.

Choose life. Align your character with God’s. Attune your integrity to his.

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I will make the right choice.

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Our Father, guide me in every choice before me today to choose what is right, just, fair, and kind. Empower me to do the right thing no matter how hard. Empower me to choose your way no matter what more expedient opportunity life’s before me. Ultimate judgment belongs to you alone. I will wait for you to settle all things in your timing and in your mercy, grace, and justice. Amen.