Seeking God in the Psalms预览

Integrity's Stability

Integrity is a stabilizing force in our life. It comes from God, and it is meant for God. Integrity is based on the strong moral principles of our Master, Jesus. It is the foundation of what makes our faith compelling and attractive. Lives built on this strong slab of faith with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) have integrity. Integrity is the missing ingredient from anemic believers in the Almighty. If our “walk does not match our talk,” we have no solid standing with our Savior or people we are seeking to influence and lead. It is your integrity that invites good and honest people to stay engaged in the enterprise you are attempting to build. It is your integrity that compels your children to come to you for counsel and advice. Integrity opens doors for your influence to flourish. It is consistent honesty. It provides moral authority.

Maintaining integrity is not always easy. Sometimes it costs us something. Maintaining your integrity may mean walking away from a relationship that reeks with inconsistencies. This person is leading you away from the Lord instead of toward him. Your integrity may be in question because of your involvement with a questionable character. Stay above reproach in your relationships. Above all else, protect your integrity. It is your credibility as a Christ follower. As you engage in financial dealings, stay away from gray areas. Gray areas can turn into a black hole of financial irresponsibility. They can drown you in the red ink of debt. Be honest about money.

Sin seeks to sink our integrity. It wants to torpedo our testimony with temptation’s allure. Indeed, we are all candidates for sin without the character of Christ consuming us. It is the Holy Spirit that pricks our consciences early so we don’t continue down the path of destruction. Our integrity places us in a strong and stable position to discern sin and stand against its assault. Our innocence is the result of God’s upholding. When others are ensnared by sin it strikes fear into followers of Jesus. This is our fate of where we go, but for God’s grace. Since we are under our Savior’s surveillance, we can insist on being an example of integrity. Integrity matters. 

It matters because it positions us to be in the presence of God. This is the reward of walking in integrity. The Lord walks lockstep with his honest and humble worshipers. His presence propels us to praise and obey him. We are in His presence forever. Our experience in His presence remains unbroken from this life until the next. It is in His presence that we bring glory to God. Our awareness and acknowledgment of the Almighty ushers others into His presence. It is our integrity that allows us to invite others into experiencing God. Therefore, steward your integrity well. It is God’s instrument of righteousness reserved for His glory. Integrity stabilizes!