Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Living with Purpose – Integrity




The definition of integrity is: Honesty; Without compromise or corruption. Our words match our actions. It is impossible for a person to live with godly integrity without the Holy Spirit. The child of God has the Holy Spirit living in them, it is unnatural for them to live like the world. We are consecrated (set aside for special use) to God through the Holy Spirit.

Without the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we will not reflect godly integrity, have strength to fight off the evil one's strategies, stand firm in faith or make any lasting changes in our thoughts or attitudes. We must  submit  to the Holy Spirit’s authority. (2 Corinthians 10: 4-7)

The awful truth why most people reject the saving grace of Jesus Christ is because of the hypocrisy they've witnessed in those who claim to follow Christ. Instead of seeing the light of love through a changed life, they see people not much different than themselves living life on their own terms.

The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity says, “I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.” (Isaiah 57:15)

A born again believer has a new nature. Everything about the old self serving nature has been changed, because of their true faith in Jesus. But those who do not have a true faith in Jesus, have not changed at all, they only exhibit a “cleaned up” version of their old self.

As followers of Jesus, we desire to live with integrity in our day-to-day lives in this fallen world. God’s loving grace is something to be honored never treated with disrespect. It is true that you can be forgiven anything, but we should accept his forgiveness with deep humility and awesome reverence for the one who is bestowing that forgiveness and the life that paid for our pardon. (Romans 5:20-21, 6:11)

Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. And everything you do, must be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT).

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