Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3–4. For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, and is … Continue reading
The seed in the good soil are those who hear the Word with a noble and good heart, hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:15 Jesus emphasized that the honest and good heart of godly people contrasts sharply with the ignoble and reprehensible heart of the merely religious. What makes the simply … Continue reading
Equip the saints for the work of service, namely, the building up of the body of Christ until we all attain to the same unity of faith and knowledge the Son of God has—to maturity, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ—so we won’t be … tossed about by … Continue reading
Those who walk in integrity walk securely. But those who pervert their ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 The military profession rests on the concept of integrity. When leaders of every rank exhibit it, units hold together, flourish, and accomplish their missions. Leaders committed to integrity inspire followers to commit to service. To our … Continue reading
Yahweh, who may sojourn in your tent? Who may settle down on the mountain of your holiness? Those who walk with integrity, who do what is right, and who speak faithfully from their hearts. Psalm 15:1–2 The psalmist’s three conditions for fellowship with our Creator may seem stringent at first glance. But they are actually … Continue reading
Being “double-minded” leads to profound instability in every area of life. When we allow ourselves to be divided—be it spiritually, ethically, morally, intellectually, or emotionally—we open the door to unhappiness and ultimately regret. In stark contrast, a single-minded individual—someone who embodies integrity—experiences no such inner turmoil. Integrity instills a powerful sense of wholeness and peace. … Continue reading
One of the helpful metaphors the biblical authors use characterizes our lives as a journey or a walk. For example, when Abraham turned ninety-nine, God said to him, “Walk about before me with integrity” (Genesis 17:1). After Solomon finished building the temple, Yahweh reminded him to “walk before me as your father David walked, in … Continue reading
Grace is a function of joy and intends to produce joy. So, when Paul says we are “saved by grace through faith,” this means God so delights in his own goodness that he established faith (trusting him to provide us a good future) as the means by which we can experience the joys of fellowship … Continue reading
If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, … the blood of God’s Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. … If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7–9 The one thing that we can … Continue reading
I myself have become persuaded about you, my brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness, in that you have been filled with all knowledge so you are able to admonish one another. Romans 15:14 Imagine that! We who follow Jesus in the obedience of faith are full of goodness. Not just any goodness, … Continue reading