Integrity

"I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O LORD, I will make music.

I will ponder the way that is blameless.

Oh when will you come to me?

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.

I hate the work of those who fall away;

it shall not cling to me.

A perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will know nothing of evil."

Psalm 101:1-4 ESV

David committed himself to walking in integrity.  In this cynical world whose ways run counter to God's, I'm always at risk of being tainted by evil, influenced by pessimism, shaped by darkness.  To live wholeheartedly devoted to God's best for His people means I'll often find myself criticized, even by other believers, as being judgmental or acting as a Pharisee.  Even though I don't want to come across as either, there are boundaries I must set for myself as a holy vessel (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:20-22).

What does it look like to walk with integrity, completely and wholly devoted to God and undivided in my affiliations and purposes?

Intentional.  There is so much evil in the world in which I live.  It streams in through the television, Internet and other forms of entertainment.  The mindsets of evil are constantly spewed forth in the media, by coworkers, friends and acquaintances.  It's easy to think in a way that runs counter to God's ways because the worldly mindsets make sense to my fleshly outlook and appeals to my flesh.  

Since I am so vulnerable, I must live intentionally, purposefully avoiding worthless pursuits and activities, staying far away from that which is wrong, and having nothing to do with sexual immorality, even if it means avoiding my favorite shows or staying away from the water cooler and putting myself at risk of being being labeled as a prude (Colossians 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 5:11).  Out of respect for my body as a holy vessel in which the Holy Spirit resides, it's worth it.

To walk in integrity like David did, I must live intentionally.

Judge.  Judge not.  Remove the log from your own eye.  Don't be a hater.  No matter how you phrase it, it's obvious I live in a culture that frowns upon making judgments.  Therefore, it's important that I understand the difference between condemnation and discernment.

If I am making a commitment to walk in integrity, wholly devoted to God and His ways, His love will propel me toward the ugly, the hurting, the sinful.  As I come into contact with others, there will be times when my discernment will show me something is off, attitudes are harmful, or behaviors destructive.  After all, there is a plumb line for God's people (Amos 7:8).    

When I realize this, it is the loving thing to gently point my brother or sister back toward the Light, not in a condemning way, but with the desire to restore them in right standing with God and others.  Sin is destructive and looking the other way makes me part of the problem.  Coming along side someone stuck in a harmful pattern, however, and walking with them back to the path that leads to Life is what I am meant to do.  As Oswald Chamber said, "God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede."

To walk in integrity like David did, I will need to discern what is God's best and what is not.

Stand.  "You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." (Matthew 5:13)  As a follower of Christ, I am meant to impact the world for Him, make a difference in the lives of those around me, bring flavor to an otherwise meager existence.  If I blend in with everyone else, fitting in to the thinking of this world and its ways, I'll lose my ability to influence the world.  I'll lose my flavor.

Therefore, I must stand firm against what is wrong, evil and dark.  If I don't speak out against what is destructive, failing to point out the pain abortion causes, the way gay marriage undermines and weakens the marriage union as God intended, how pornography ruins lives, I'm a part of the problem and have lost my saltiness.  God has placed me where I am to help preserve the society in which I'm living.  

To walk in integrity like David did, I must take a stand for what is right.

It's hard to live in the world as a follower of Christ and not rock the boat.  If I'm to be true to my calling, I will need to intentionally avoid that which is evil, to judge what is not God's best as a way of life, and to take a stand against the darkness.  When I do, I may not be popular, but I'll be walking in integrity as David did.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He shows me how to love someone enough to discern when they're stuck in a destructive pattern.

How do I avoid taking a stand so that I won't be ostracized by the majority?

When am I so afraid of looking judgmental that I fail to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone who needs Him?