Integrity

Today our focus is on integrity. And before I “reveal” the verse (haha) I right away thought. definition! Maybe it’s just me but sometimes I hear a word over and over but I don’t stop to think, what does that word actually mean? My kids think its funny that whenever I say the word “salvation” I always say “deliverance” as well. I want to keep in my mind ways to remember words that are, um, big theological terms but that can stay meaningful to me. 🙂

I digress. Integrity: (from blb.org)
1) integrity, completeness
a) completeness, fulness
b) innocence, simplicity
c) integrity
So Proverbs 20:7: this is our verse today. 7The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed (happy, fortunate, enviable) are his children after him.
Hmmm, so one more word definition: righteous (again blb.org)
1) just, lawful, righteous
a) just, righteous (in government)
b) just, right (in one’s cause)
c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
e) right, correct, lawful
Interesting..so if we put this all together…the first part of this phrase:
The righteous (lawful, correct, just) man (or woman) walks in his (or her) integrity (completeness, fulness, innocence, simplicity)…

So praying for our spouse and for ourselves, our family on this focus means prayer for him/her to be walking in a right relationship with the Lord..let me share some verses on this…
Proverbs 14:2 2He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary and devious in his ways despises Him.
2 Corinthians 1:12 12It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and [d]merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues).
Titus 2:11-1211For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.
12It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,
And then if we look at the second half of the verse, here is where we have focus on the next generation..
Proverbs 13:2222A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.
Jeremiah 32: 39And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may [reverently] fear Me forever for the good of themselves and of their children after them. 40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will not turn away from following them to do them good, and I will put My [reverential] fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me.
These verses, simply put, tell of the importance of legacy. How we live today truly has an impact on the children of tomorrow. How we walk, stand and sit is an example, good or bad, to the next generation.
Okay, well, I’m convicted. 😉 Pray on, dear ones. Pray on.