Christianity is a lifestyle, not just a belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus wants us to walk with integrity to show to the world that we belong to Him. Our good works are essential to our faith in our Lord Jesus. Obviously, we are not saved for being good. We are only saved by faith alone in our Lord Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, the evidence of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is our changed lives, which shows in our good attitude and behaviors towards others. We need to examine ourselves daily to see if we are living with integrity in our homes, schools, or works. James 2:14 says, "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?" James is saying that my faith should show in my daily actions. He gave an example in the following verses. He said, "Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (James 2:15-16)" And James concluded by saying, "So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless (James 2:17)." We must live out what we believe and say.
Living with integrity is very important in our walk with our Lord Jesus. So, if we struggle to walk with integrity, we need to humbly ask God to renew our minds and change our hearts. We need to be willing to change, or else we will never mature in our relationship with God, and we will cause other people to sin because of our sinful behavior. We must become the people of integrity. When people see us as honest people, they will trust us and find favor. Additionally, God will bless our lives. When I began ministering to the refugee community in Dallas, TX., the refugees trusted me because they saw that my heart was real and honest. I wasn't perfect, but they saw my integrity. As a result, God used my life to lead many of them to believe in our Lord Jesus and be saved. God can also use you where you at. If we want to be a blessing to others and want God to use our lives to make a difference, we must live with integrity.
Living with integrity is important in our spiritual walk with God. If we struggle to live with integrity, we need to ask God to renew our minds with His truth and change our hearts. We must be willing to change if we want to live with integrity.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Can my coworkers, classmates, friends, and family see my integrity? What must I do if I am struggling to live with integrity? Why is it important to live with integrity as a Christian?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, I want to live with integrity. Please forgive me if I haven't been walking with integrity. Please renew my mind with your truth and change my heart. I am willing to change for your glory and honor. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Comments