Bible League: Living His Word Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.— Psalm 26:1 ESV Integrity. Job’s wife urged her husband to let go of his integrity to end his pain; but he would not, and the Lord boasts about the strength of Job’s integrity to Satan (Job 2:3). Satan was trying to break Job’s confidence in God by attacking his health and wealth, but he did not succumb. He said in reply to his accusing friends, “Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me” (Job 27:5). What is this “integrity”? The word is used nearly 30 times in the Bible (mostly in the Psalms and Proverbs), and it is always given a good connotation. It means to be consistent and uncompromising, to adhere to a strict moral and ethical code, to be honest and truthful and accurate in one’s actions. A person with integrity acts in accord with what she says she believes; she is not a hypocrite. In Scripture, this character quality is equated with wisdom and contrasted with crookedness: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them” (Proverbs 11:3). The concept of integrity is certainly under attack in our modern era. It used to be a laudable character quality, but now it is viewed almost as a handicap to success. How many times do we see politicians promise one thing and then do another? Or they condemn the action of an opponent while the same scandal can be found in their own house. How about climate activists who fly around in private jets that spew more toxins than the gas-powered cars they condemn? As followers of the God of truth, we also must walk in truth, upholding and demonstrating integrity. Scripture promises reward for those who keep their integrity – Proverbs 20:7, 28:18. And Paul commands Titus to show integrity as a part of being a good example to the new converts in Crete (Titus 2:7). It is easy to point out the lack of integrity in unbelievers, but we really need to turn the microscope on our own hearts. If we are to be salt and light for this world, we need to preserve integrity and show the unbelieving world how invaluable it is. So, can you boast about your integrity as David did in Psalm 26? David was not sinless, but he claims he never wavered from trusting the Lord. Do your actions say, “I trust the Lord without wavering”? Do you pay your taxes in full? Your tithe? Have you compromised your stance on God’s moral code because someone you love has chosen to live a sinful lifestyle? These little compromises chip away at our integrity. Let us examine ourselves and pray that we would not be conformed to this world, but that we would be transformed with renewed minds to be like Christ, steadfast in all things. By Grace Barnes, Bible League International volunteer, Michigan USA Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEsther 4, 5, 6 Esther 4 -- Mordecai Informs Esther of Haman's Plot NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 5 -- Esther Prepares a Banquet; Haman's Rage NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Esther 6 -- The King Honors Mordecai, Haman Compelled to do so NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 5:17-42 Acts 5 -- Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira; Apostles Imprisoned, Released by an Angel; Gamaliel Speaks NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”Insight Some people in the crowd were looking for evidence to use against Jesus; others truly wanted to learn and grow. Jesus' words were for the honest seekers. Challenge We hear with our ears, but there is a deeper kind of listening with the mind and heart that is necessary in order to gain spiritual understanding from Jesus' words. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hebrews 12:27 That those things which cannot be shaken may remain.We have many things in our possession at the present moment which can be shaken, and it ill becomes a Christian man to set much store by them, for there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all things. Yet, we have certain "things which cannot be shaken," and I invite you this evening to think of them, that if the things which can be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain. Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation. You are standing at the foot of his cross, trusting alone in the merit of Jesus' precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in him; no breaking of banks, no failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a child of God this evening. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of that. Although by losses brought to poverty, and stripped bare, you can say, "He is my Father still. In my Father's house are many mansions; therefore will I not be troubled." You have another permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He who is God and Man loves you with all the strength of his affectionate nature--nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may cease from the field, it matters not to the man who can sing, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his." Our best portion and richest heritage we cannot lose. Whatever troubles come, let us play the man; let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by what may happen in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel's land, our hope is above the sky, and therefore, calm as the summer's ocean; we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 11:36 So the Jews were saying, "See how He loved him!"2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. John 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us. 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; • and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |