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Key Bible Verse: Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity (Psalm 26:1). Bonus Reading:Psalm 15:1–5

The basketball coach at Rockdale County (Ga.) High School gained national attention when he called attention to an innocent mistake of his own. His team had just finished a glorious season that included 21 wins and a Georgia state title. After the season was over, someone told the coach that one player, a rarely used substitute, had been academically ineligible when he briefly played in an early tournament game.

Coach Cleveland Stroud promptly reported the blunder to the Georgia High School Athletic Association, which under the rules then deprived the team of its state championship trophy. "We didn't know he was ineligible at the time," the coach explained. "We didn't know it until a few weeks ago. Some people have said we should have just kept quiet about it, that it was just 45 seconds and the player wasn't an impact player. But you've got to do what's honest and right and what the rules say. I told my team that people forget the scores of basketball games; they don't ever forget what you're made of." His young men were able to see in him a living example of taking responsibility for one's actions even when that responsibility produces pain.

—Doug McIntosh in Life's Greatest Journey

My Response: Have I ever lied by saying nothing?

Thought to Apply: I have found that you will not lie or evade in any dealing with us, even when it appears you could easily do so.

—French official (to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower)

Adapted from: Life's Greatest Journey (Moody Press, Moody Bible Institute, 2000).

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Holy Father, help me to reflect Your character with absolute integrity.

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