By: Justin Dillenschneider, Director of Student Life
Week of May 9th, 2022
Integrity can be characterized by a firm adherence to a code of established moral or artistic values. Integrity is put to the test when we think no one is watching or listening; how then do we live? If we speak or act differently around certain people, we should ask ourselves who we are really living for. When our relationship with God is the center of our lives, we are forced to constantly evaluate whether or not we are living in obedience to His commands or in pursuit of our own goals. This side of heaven, followers of Christ will still struggle with temptations and sin and so often fall short of living with perfect integrity. Our goal should be to seek to more deeply understand the character of God and to live in a way that honors and glorifies Him rather than ourselves.
Continue contemplating integrity by looking at this week’s scripture readings from:
Proverbs 4:23-27 CSB “23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. 27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.”
Titus 2:7-8, 11-14 ESV “7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
We want to encourage you to have a conversation this week about the virtue of Integrity.
Consider these discussion prompts together:
- What tempts you to fall into legalism?
- Where have you seen people fall into corruption? Where are you tempted to do so?
- What are some ways you see Christ correcting legalistic or corrupt behavior in Scripture?
- How do we see the apostles and the early church modeling and celebrating integrity in their words and actions?