Tuesday, January 15, 2008 @ 9:19 AM
Psalm 15: Integrity.

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

***

I have recently spoken about how we need to discipline ourselves to put off the old self (our old sinful nature) and put on the new self (the new nature that's in Christ). It's a struggle we will always go through, the fight between the "black dog" and "white dog", until it becomes a delight in us to do the things of the new nature. That's when the "white dog" wins.

In the same way, as I read today's psalm, I felt that the word to summarize it, is:
Integrity

Integrity is absolute consistency between the inner and outer self, between public performance (when people are watching) and private behavior (when only God sees), between spoken word and demonstrated action.

The word Integrity comes from the same root word as Integral and Integrated. Both these terms imply wholeness, completeness or consistency.

A person with integrity lives by some simple rules

1. Always do what is right, regardless of the short-term reward for doing otherwise. ("walk is blameless.. does what is righteous")
2. Be willing to accept and speak the truth, even if the truth is not popular or what people want to hear. ("speaks truth from the heart", "no slander", "no slur")
3. Promise only what you can deliver. Deliver what you promise. ("keeps his oath")
4. Be true to your ideals, even in the face of criticism and ridicule. ("does not accept a bribe against the innocent... will never be shaken")

As Pastor YC said, his personal motto is to
"Live life in the eyes of many, but for the audience of ONE"
meaning though he lives a public life, all he cares about is that in his public and private life, he lives only wanting to please Jesus.

Is your public and private life consistent?

Labels: Journey Through Psalms

Tuesday, January 15, 2008 @ 9:19 AM
Psalm 15: Integrity.

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

***

I have recently spoken about how we need to discipline ourselves to put off the old self (our old sinful nature) and put on the new self (the new nature that's in Christ). It's a struggle we will always go through, the fight between the "black dog" and "white dog", until it becomes a delight in us to do the things of the new nature. That's when the "white dog" wins.

In the same way, as I read today's psalm, I felt that the word to summarize it, is:
Integrity

Integrity is absolute consistency between the inner and outer self, between public performance (when people are watching) and private behavior (when only God sees), between spoken word and demonstrated action.

The word Integrity comes from the same root word as Integral and Integrated. Both these terms imply wholeness, completeness or consistency.

A person with integrity lives by some simple rules

1. Always do what is right, regardless of the short-term reward for doing otherwise. ("walk is blameless.. does what is righteous")
2. Be willing to accept and speak the truth, even if the truth is not popular or what people want to hear. ("speaks truth from the heart", "no slander", "no slur")
3. Promise only what you can deliver. Deliver what you promise. ("keeps his oath")
4. Be true to your ideals, even in the face of criticism and ridicule. ("does not accept a bribe against the innocent... will never be shaken")

As Pastor YC said, his personal motto is to
"Live life in the eyes of many, but for the audience of ONE"
meaning though he lives a public life, all he cares about is that in his public and private life, he lives only wanting to please Jesus.

Is your public and private life consistent?

Labels: Journey Through Psalms