integrity

Integrity. A word that is used in a myriad of ways, but it is rarely ever defined. Personally, I thought it meant to not lie to someone. After discovering that INTEGRITY is the favorite word of one of my favorite people, I decided to investigate it. Why? Because my person isn’t one to decide something like this with a careless mindset. I know her well enough to know that there was a reason for why a word like INTEGRITY is her favorite word. I didn’t really want to investigate INTEGRITY through the lens of anything other than Scripture. There were two simple reasons for that. (1) I know Scripture is the foundation on which my friend builds her life. (2) The other reason behind my researching INTEGRITY in Scripture is found in John’s gospel. Jesus Christ said in John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” I decided to take God at His Word and press forward. What I discovered was mind-boggling. Difficult because it seemed so foreign. Convicting because I know where I don't measure up. But GOD! He is so very faithful! He's offered such grace for this journey ... and forgiveness. Since I am probably not the only person who has wrestled with this concept/idea, I thought I’d share what I learned from the pages of the Holy Writ of God.

Here are the Scripture passage references for the truths I discovered:
(for my friends who don’t have a Bible handy, you can check the references at https://www.biblegateway.com …)
1 Kings 9:4-5a    1 Peter 2:12       1 Peter 3:16       1 Timothy 1:5    1 Timothy 5:8        
2 Corinthians 4:2             2 Corinthians 8:21           Acts 24:16          Colossians 3:23
Ephesians 6:4        Ephesians 6:6               Hebrews 13:18                Isaiah 26:7
James 4:17         Job 2:3       Job 2:9           Leviticus 19:11                 Luke 16:10
Luke 6:31            Micah 6:8           Philippians 2:13               Philippians 4:8  
Proverbs 1:3         Proverbs 10:9                Proverbs 11:3                   Proverbs 12:22
Proverbs 19:1        Proverbs 20:7                             Proverbs 21:3                  Proverbs 22:11
Proverbs 28:6                   Psalm 18:20       Psalm 25:21                      Psalm 26:1
Psalm 7:8            Romans 9:1        Titus 1:7              Titus 1:8              Titus 2:7
Zechariah 7:9
 
What I discovered as I looked up (& wrote out) every one of these passages is that a person of integrity:
is blameless & a person after God’s own heart, lives a good life, keeps a clear conscience, is a student of the Word, loves; has a pure heart, a good conscience, a sincere faith; renounces secret & shameful ways, gives no deceit or distortion about anything, gives the truth plainly; gives 110% for/to the Lord, provides of his/her family; possesses a spirit of submission/obedience; trains/instructs their children in the ways of the Lord; level/balanced living, live honorably in every way, does what they know to be good and right; fears God, shunning evil; not cursing God, honest in word/deed; acts justly, loves mercy, walks (lives) humbly; fulfilling God’s will/purpose; consumed with what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy; faithful, teachable, prudent, trustworthy, is God’s delight, does right; loves a pure heart, speaks with grace, lives in the righteousness of Jesus, hopes in the LORD, hospitable; self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined, merciful, and compassionate.

Before anyone thinks I don’t have a balanced perspective of my friend, let me assure you she knows she isn’t perfect. I know she isn’t perfect … but I’ve seen, firsthand, how she takes her imperfections to the Lord she loves so very much. That epitomizes INTEGRITY, in my eyes.
How thankful I am for this quest … even more, I’m thankful for my friend. What I’m thankful for mostly, though, is the Lord … the One who saved me & my friend. Jesus Christ left Heaven’s throne with the mission of redemption in His mind/on His heart. He is the perfect Role Model for integrity … living a life fully surrendered to God the Father.

For details on Jesus’ heart of redemption and how to be saved, please visit https://www.gotquestions.org/plan-of-salvation.html
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Or you can reach out to me here. I’d love to talk to you!
I’m just another Pilgrim longing to take other Pilgrims with me to the Celestial City!
Soli Deo Gloria!

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