Matthew 5:8 (NLT)
To “see God” means to experience the presence of God. Believers who have pure hearts get to feel the power of God. They experience the pardon of God. They get to know the purpose God has for their lives. They get to live in the peace of God.
Do you want to be one of those people? We don’t talk a lot these days about being pure in heart, but instead we use a word with a similar meaning: integrity. Are you working to build your life on values that last? If you are, you need to learn to live with integrity. To have integrity does not mean you are perfect, because if it did, none of us would have it! So what does it mean to have integrity?
Integrity is wholeness.
A lot of people think of their lives like a pie, and the different parts of their lives are the pieces of the pie. Someone might describe it like this: “This slice of the pie is my career. This is my work life. This is my spiritual life. Then this is my family life. That one is my social life. Then over here is my secret life—my compulsions, addictions, and secret sins—the things nobody else knows about.”
When you segment your life like that, you lack integrity because your life is not a whole. Integrity means you’re the same person everywhere and with everybody—in your speech, actions, and motives—no matter which part of life you’re walking through.
Integrity is uncorrupted motivation.
When you have integrity, you do the right thing for the right reason. You have unmixed, pure motives. You’re sincere and straightforward in every area of your life and with all people. You pray so you can talk with God, not so you can impress other people.
The Bible says, “The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity” (Proverbs 11:20 NLT).
We’re interested in image, but God is interested in integrity. We’re interested in reputation, but God is interested in character. Reputation has to do with what everybody thinks you are; integrity is what you really are. Your reputation is connected to who you appear to be in public; integrity is connected to who you are when you’re all alone with God.
Have you been more concerned about your image and reputation than your character and integrity? Commit to being a person of integrity today.
To “see God” means to experience the presence of God. Believers who have pure hearts get to feel the power of God. They experience the pardon of God. They get to know the purpose God has for their lives. They get to live in the peace of God.
Do you want to be one of those people? We don’t talk a lot these days about being pure in heart, but instead we use a word with a similar meaning: integrity. Are you working to build your life on values that last? If you are, you need to learn to live with integrity. To have integrity does not mean you are perfect, because if it did, none of us would have it! So what does it mean to have integrity?
Integrity is wholeness.
A lot of people think of their lives like a pie, and the different parts of their lives are the pieces of the pie. Someone might describe it like this: “This slice of the pie is my career. This is my work life. This is my spiritual life. Then this is my family life. That one is my social life. Then over here is my secret life—my compulsions, addictions, and secret sins—the things nobody else knows about.”
When you segment your life like that, you lack integrity because your life is not a whole. Integrity means you’re the same person everywhere and with everybody—in your speech, actions, and motives—no matter which part of life you’re walking through.
Integrity is uncorrupted motivation.
When you have integrity, you do the right thing for the right reason. You have unmixed, pure motives. You’re sincere and straightforward in every area of your life and with all people. You pray so you can talk with God, not so you can impress other people.
The Bible says, “The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity” (Proverbs 11:20 NLT).
We’re interested in image, but God is interested in integrity. We’re interested in reputation, but God is interested in character. Reputation has to do with what everybody thinks you are; integrity is what you really are. Your reputation is connected to who you appear to be in public; integrity is connected to who you are when you’re all alone with God.
Have you been more concerned about your image and reputation than your character and integrity? Commit to being a person of integrity today.
Talk It Over
Would the people in each area of your life—your co-workers, classmates, neighbors, family members, and friends—all use the same words to describe you? Why or why not?
Think of someone in your life who models integrity well. What is one specific habit you can learn from that person?
When are you most tempted to value and protect reputation over character? Why?
- by Pastor Rick
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Prayer:
Father,
We come before You today to ask for Your guidance and strength in maintaining integrity. Help us always walk in honesty and truth, even when it is challenging. Give us the courage to stand up for what is right, even in the face of opposition or criticism. Remind us that our integrity is important not only for our personal growth and development but also for the impact it can have on those around us. Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and help us to renew our minds, so that we may always be a reflection of Your love and Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
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