Who do you say I am? Part II
Proverbs 11: 3 “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
This is the scripture we start with last time. We talked about integrity and consistency and are you who you say you are. Then we ended with the challenge for you to ask people who know you in your ministry Who do you say that I am?
So I ask again are you as proverbs 11 say upright and walking with integrity?
How do we know we have integrity? How do we truly know are are living up to what we say. Can we trust our own words thoughts, actions to be measured accurately on our own.
2 Corinthians 1:12
“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.”
Our conscience testifies it! When we are walking with integrity we have a clear conscience. I know for me, I have a hole lot less to worry about when I put my head down to sleep. I am typically exhausted too, because I have done all I could in the day. When we have integrity and are aligned with God’s will it is so much easier to know when we are off. When we are constantly walking the line of integrity or sin that line becomes all the more fuzzy and we lose sight of where we are at. Perhaps, this is also what we need others in our lives to “take the plank out or our eyes."
Areas I find the we can easily lack integrity are tithing, purity, laziness, consistent time reading Bible, video game addiction, sleeping in, cutting corners at work to make budget or not being forthright when we make a mistake.
Integrity on the other hand faces these challenges head on and sets an example.
Titus 2: 7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Why is this so important to be who we say we are going to be? To be an example?
Being an example leads others to Christ, leads our families, our children, and our co-workers. Whether we believe it or not everyone is watch those who profess to be Christian.
Read 1 Cor 4: 8-16
“Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”
Because of the kind of life Paul led he could easily say, Imitate me.
Can we say this to other younger Christians or non-believers we are trying to help?
Questions to meditate on…
What are some areas in your life where you need to improve your integrity?
What skeletons are in your closet? (unconfessed sin)(over indulgence, video games)
How can you continue to walk with integrity?
