Seen or Unseen - We Know

(photo from cengage.com)

Today, let’s think about integrity. We desperately want to see it in our political leaders, especially those who declare their Christianity all over their campaign literature vying for our votes.

As Christians, it should be upper most in our personal characteristics to show exemplary integrity when we’re in the public eye, as well as when we’re alone walking to our car after a grocery shopping spree. (I use the word spree to make it sound like grocery shopping is fun, when in fact, it can be a financial burden for many to put food on their tables, these days.)

What does exemplary integrity look like to you? Is it okay to cut corners when no one is looking? When you get to your car to unload those expensive groceries and discover there’s something in your cart you didn’t get charged for, do you shrug your shoulders and declare that it’s not your fault the cashier didn’t ring it up? Do we justify not paying for it by arguing that we overpaid for every else in the cart? Or do we take the time to walk back in and pay for it? Afterall, no one will ever know what choice we make. Right? Well, yes, God sees everything, but He’s not going to strike us down with a lightning bolt for stealing the item. We know the right thing to do, but do we always do the right thing?

I’ve dealt with people who showed me they had no integrity at all. Honestly, it hurts. But do I sometimes treat others with less exemplary integrity in my heart? Oftentimes, others can tell when we’re cheating them. They may just lack the guts it takes to confront us.

(photo from changingaging.org)

When we find ourselves in a compromising situation, do we sometimes assure ourselves with statements like “the ends justify the means…”? It can be pretty easy to talk ourselves into justifying something we felt we had to do. Satan is right there to encourage us with excuses for justifying something we know right well we shouldn’t do. Yes, we want to hold politicians (and everyone else) to this standard, but do we measure up?

I don’t bring you these words to beat you up, but to encourage you to good works. Sometimes, we need a loving reminder to check our hearts and make sure the enemy hasn’t worked his way in with subtle deceptions. Just sharing some good points to ponder.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,” - Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV)

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” - James 4:17 (NKJV)

Correction

(photo from goodhousekeeping.com)

Okay, nothing as embarrassing (but, clearly needed) as a spiritual time out.

Not too long ago, I woke up complaining. It’s a nasty habit I need to break, for sure. But, I clearly heard God say to me, “If you’re complaining about someone, you’re not praying for them. If you were sincerely praying for them, you wouldn’t want to hinder those prayers with doubt, unbelief, grumblings and complaining.” Ouch!

Proverbs 3:12 tells us plainly, “For whom the Lord loves, he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delights.” (KJV)

Of course, He’s right. He’s always right. Those are the arguments we can’t win, there’s no defense when God points out something like that. Conviction sets in, repentance falls from your heart and you start over, yet again.

(photo from parents.com)

Makes me ponder the point: how many of our prayers go unanswered because we ask amiss. (“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss….” – James 4:3 KJV) Surely, it would be considered asking amiss to pray and complain about the same person/situation.

Do you have that one person or situation you find yourself complaining about a lot? In the Old Testament, God became so angry with the Israelites for grumbling and complaining that the ground opened up and swallowed a bunch of them. (Numbers 16)

Thank God for the covenant of grace!

I just wanted to share this “spanking” with all of you, so that God doesn’t have to chastise you, too. Or, perhaps, so that He can use this blog post to do the chastising for Him.

Heads up: Complaining and praying do NOT go hand in hand.

Mark 11:24-26 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:24-26 (KJV)

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go they way; first be reconciled to they brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV)

(picture from weclipart.com)