תּמים
tâmîym taw-meem'
Without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole.
נכח
nâkôach naw-ko'-akh
Straightforward, that is, (figuratively), equitable, correct, or (abstractly), integrity: - plain, right, uprightness.
There are numerous references to integrity in the Word of God, forty times in the KJV the word INTEGRITY appears and this character quality is continually stressed throughout the rest of the text of the Bible. We look around us today and see a world in utter chaos, even Christianity faces the cries of hypocrisy and many doubt the existence of God at all. Why? Could it be that we have failed to live with integrity? Is it true that those who claim to be Christians have not lived upright lives? This is a gigantic problem facing the Church today. Are we the people that God has called us to be?! Are we even trying? Are we standing for what is right and true? Are moral values and integrity important in today's Christian culture? They should be of utmost importance, yet I fear that the worst is coming. If we do not embrace the calling of the Lord to rise up and live as people of integrity we will utterly fail to walk according to the guidance and teachings of Jesus Christ. We who have been redeemed have a reason to believe in principal, we have a cause to fight for, our selfish ambition and pent-up resentment for each other must be cast aside and we must embrace each other as brothers and sisters in Christ united in our resolve to live righteously. We must live with a spirit of affirmation, love and forgiveness. We must BE the body of Christ to the dying world around us. We cannot, we must not, waiver in our resolve to stand for what the Holy and Inspired Word of God tells us is right. We must cleanse our minds of the unholy drabble which is shoved at us with full force from the world around us and live so that the world will see that we are SALT bringing flavor to a tasteless and stale worldview. We must be LIGHT that the world can see the utter chaos which the lifestyle it promotes has brought on. We must STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to the needs, the desires, the longing inside of the hearts around us - the only way we will change make an impact is if we LOVE. We have become a people so distraught over petty things - like dancing, and drinking, and inconsequential doctrinal differences - that we have neglected our first love (GOD) and embraced the very lifestyle that we abhor. We destroy the unity in the Church, we cause division between each other as children of God, and we try to control the life which we have given “wholly” to God. I find myself there frequently, grabbing up the reigns and attempting to guide my seemingly chaotic life back into line with God's Word. But, do you know what I always find? The more I fight to bring my life into accord with God's desires, the more off course I get.
tâmîym taw-meem'
Without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole.
נכח
nâkôach naw-ko'-akh
Straightforward, that is, (figuratively), equitable, correct, or (abstractly), integrity: - plain, right, uprightness.
There are numerous references to integrity in the Word of God, forty times in the KJV the word INTEGRITY appears and this character quality is continually stressed throughout the rest of the text of the Bible. We look around us today and see a world in utter chaos, even Christianity faces the cries of hypocrisy and many doubt the existence of God at all. Why? Could it be that we have failed to live with integrity? Is it true that those who claim to be Christians have not lived upright lives? This is a gigantic problem facing the Church today. Are we the people that God has called us to be?! Are we even trying? Are we standing for what is right and true? Are moral values and integrity important in today's Christian culture? They should be of utmost importance, yet I fear that the worst is coming. If we do not embrace the calling of the Lord to rise up and live as people of integrity we will utterly fail to walk according to the guidance and teachings of Jesus Christ. We who have been redeemed have a reason to believe in principal, we have a cause to fight for, our selfish ambition and pent-up resentment for each other must be cast aside and we must embrace each other as brothers and sisters in Christ united in our resolve to live righteously. We must live with a spirit of affirmation, love and forgiveness. We must BE the body of Christ to the dying world around us. We cannot, we must not, waiver in our resolve to stand for what the Holy and Inspired Word of God tells us is right. We must cleanse our minds of the unholy drabble which is shoved at us with full force from the world around us and live so that the world will see that we are SALT bringing flavor to a tasteless and stale worldview. We must be LIGHT that the world can see the utter chaos which the lifestyle it promotes has brought on. We must STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to the needs, the desires, the longing inside of the hearts around us - the only way we will change make an impact is if we LOVE. We have become a people so distraught over petty things - like dancing, and drinking, and inconsequential doctrinal differences - that we have neglected our first love (GOD) and embraced the very lifestyle that we abhor. We destroy the unity in the Church, we cause division between each other as children of God, and we try to control the life which we have given “wholly” to God. I find myself there frequently, grabbing up the reigns and attempting to guide my seemingly chaotic life back into line with God's Word. But, do you know what I always find? The more I fight to bring my life into accord with God's desires, the more off course I get.
The reason is that I do not have the power or the foresight to do this monumental task. I could not save myself from the sin which separated me from knowing God. I could not span the gap between the Father and myself. Not with all of the technology or money, experience or knowledge, fear or doubt could I bring myself even one step closer to a relationship with God. So why do I think I can do it now? I can't and neither can you. Only by the Gracious Blood of Christ can the gap be bridged from my broken and sinful heart to the throne of God; likewise, neither can I gain a foothold in the right direction without first going to the author of my faith and the perfector of my ways. He is the Guide, the Search and Rescue team, He was waiting on me to grab His hand and say, "Okay God, I'm willing to let go...here is control...really, you've got it all. I trust in Your guidance and know that Your desires for my life are far and above any plans that I could make. Break me oh God, make my life a perfect reflection of you. Tear all of me down, destroy me, decimate my inmost being, that I may then be built completely on your firm and never faltering foundation. Be Glorified in my life that Your name would be lifted high above all things and that the farthest reaches of the Earth will know that You are God, Creator, Master, Lover of our Souls, Alpha and Omega, the King of Kings, He who is and is to come, our Redeemer, our Keeper, our Protector, our Comforter, our Shield, our High Tower, and our friend. Bless your name forever and may Your Glory be known in me each day. Amen!"
Integrity is one of those things which cannot be quested for, it must be lived out and practiced. It must be focused upon in every aspect of one's life, that it may be seen and that God may receive glory for the character that He has placed and grown within one's life. I pray that we
would become a people of integrity, a world of integrity, and most imperatively a Church - a BODY - of integrity. The world is looking for someone to lead, will we?
Some scriptural references:
Deu 9:51, Ki 3:6 1, Ki 9:42, Ch 19:9, Job 1:1, Job 1:8, Job 2:3, Job 2:9, Job 4:6, Job 8:20, Job 27:5, Job 31:6, Psa 7:8, Psa 25:21, Psa 26:1, Psa 26:11, Psa 41:12, Psa 51:6, Psa 84:11, Psa 101:2, Psa 101:6, Psa 145:18, Pro 1:3, Pro 2:7, Pro 2:21, Pro 10:9, Pro 11:3, Pro 13:6, Pro 14:2, Pro 19:1, Pro 20:7, Pro 28:6, Pro 28:18, Amo 5:10, Tit 2:7
Deu 9:51, Ki 3:6 1, Ki 9:42, Ch 19:9, Job 1:1, Job 1:8, Job 2:3, Job 2:9, Job 4:6, Job 8:20, Job 27:5, Job 31:6, Psa 7:8, Psa 25:21, Psa 26:1, Psa 26:11, Psa 41:12, Psa 51:6, Psa 84:11, Psa 101:2, Psa 101:6, Psa 145:18, Pro 1:3, Pro 2:7, Pro 2:21, Pro 10:9, Pro 11:3, Pro 13:6, Pro 14:2, Pro 19:1, Pro 20:7, Pro 28:6, Pro 28:18, Amo 5:10, Tit 2:7
1 comment:
The great difficulty of integrity--wholeness--is that we're NOT whole. We're divided. We have a new nature, but also an old nature still hanging around. The only way to have real integrity is to kill off one or the other nature. Killing that sin nature is a difficult task, because it just doesn't want to die.
I feel this very acutely. I know I don't have the kind of integrity I want. I think and say and do things that embarrass me. Many times, the old nature shines right through.
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