06/29/2019
Daniel 3:16-18 ~ "Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer
you on this point. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from
the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But
even if He does not, let it be
known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the
golden image that you have set up!”
Do God the honour to trust him when it
comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle. Lose all rather than lose
your integrity, and when all else is gone, still hold fast a clear conscience
as the rarest jewel which can adorn the bosom of a mortal.
Just like these three young men of God
stood up for their belief in God when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to bow
to his gods, we as followers of Jesus Christ need to know that we too can have
that same integrity even in today’s do whatever you want society.
God allowed Satan to do his best to cause
Job to lose his integrity, yet through all the loss Job kept his faith and his
integrity and did not bow out when the storms came against him from Satan.
Job 2:3 ~ The Lord said to
Satan, “Have you considered and
reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a
blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from
and turns away from evil
[because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me
against him to destroy him without cause.”
The purity
of our love and devotion unto The Father, Jesus and The Holy Spirit will
determine the depth of our integrity and honor.
Psalm 26:1-4 ~ Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have
walked in my integrity; I have [relied on and] trusted
[confidently] in the Lord without wavering and I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my heart and my mind. For Your
lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked
[faithfully] in Your truth. I do not sit with deceitful
or unethical or worthless men, Nor seek companionship with pretenders (self-righteous hypocrites).
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles;
moral uprightness. Integrity is possessing moral character, principle, virtue,
decency, fairness, truthfulness and trustworthiness. Integrity is also defined
as the state of being whole and undivided. Therefore, one must stay clear of
the 7 things the Lord hates.
Proverbs 6:16-21 ~ These six things the Lord hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look [the
attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying
tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that
run swiftly to evil, A false witness who breathes out
lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord
(rumors) among brothers. My son, be guided by
your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction) And
do not reject the teaching of your mother; Bind them
continually upon your heart (in your thoughts), and tie
them around your neck.
Honor is quality of high respect or esteem.
It is a distinction of nobility, recognition, quality or effect. Honor is a
life that fulfills, observes, keeps, obeys, heeds and follows. A man or a
woman of honor embodies integrity and character.
Matthew 5:8 ~ Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually
mature] are
the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.
Psalm 5:12 ~ For You, O Lord, bless the
righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You]; You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Have you ever had to make a difficult
decision or perform an unpleasant action that you didn’t want to do? It’s
happened to a lot of us. We find ourselves trying to figure out what to do and
what to say. At the core of it, though, is how should we display our integrity
in the middle of it? How do we do it?
What is
Integrity?
You might think of yourself
as being a good judge of character. If you are, then you’re picking up on other
people’s integrity.
These are the people you like
being around. They’re the one(s) you call when you need help in the middle of
the night. It’s the man or woman you enjoy working with and look forward to
seeing every day. It’s the coach you know who truly cares about teaching your
kids a certain sport and you pray that your child is on their team again next season.
It’s the plumber, landscaper, or electrician you call each time because you
know they’ll take good care of you. You know who I mean.
Why are we attracted to
people like this? It’s because of the sincerity in their heart and their true
desire to help others. They’re genuine and genuinely kind. They’re the good
guys, and we love them.
Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus defines integrity like
this: “1. completeness; wholeness, 2.
unimpaired condition; soundness, 3. honesty, sincerity, etc.” Synonyms
include, “uprightness, honor.”
More importantly, the Bible
defines integrity as someone who is honest, trustworthy, respectful, and keeps
their promises. It’s basically anyone who is
like Jesus.
Jesus, the Model of Integrity
Jesus is the
ultimate good guy, obviously. He has the greatest integrity of anyone. If He
told you He’s coming to visit, He’ll show up. If He says, “You are healed,”
then you are healed. If He says He forgives you, you know He’s telling the
truth. There’s no reason to ever doubt His word.
Since we
are told to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him {Matthew 10:38}, we ought to be striving to be like Him every day. At its most basic,
it means always being honest, truthful, and respectful regardless of the
situation. We might still pay some heavy-duty consequences for our actions, but
if our response to them is honest and humble we emerge with victory.
We gain
more respect too. People with integrity respond properly to problems, and
others are attracted to it. They admire it. It’s one way how Jesus gained
followers when He walked among us.
Whether it
was the Pharisees and scribes, or townsmen, or even his own brothers, Jesus
withstood ridicule and persecution like no one ever can. He demonstrated
integrity at every turn. He could do this because He is God, and God cannot
betray His own character or else He would not be perfect and holy.
Of course,
we are not perfect, but we can still model integrity by how we respond to
difficult situations.
Secret Integrity
Secret Integrity
Once we
understand the need for integrity and the good it does, it gets easier to mold
it into our actions when others are watching us. But what happens when no one
is looking?
There’s a great song by a contemporary Christian trio called 33 Miles titled Stand Amazed. They sang it around 2007, too bad it didn't make it to radio because it would have blessed a lot of lives. The chorus of the song says,
“When all the
lights go down, when no one’s looking, no one is around, I want to be the
same man that’ll serve You then like I serve You now. That my
convictions never change, only my need for You remains As real as the
moment I was saved, so I will always stand amazed.”
When I listen to this song, I picture the scene in my mind. I’m sitting in the dark, all alone. No one sees what I’m doing or hears what I’m saying. Only God does. And I asked myself, am I the same person alone with God as I am in front of others? Do I have the same integrity?
This song
reminds me that I can’t have a split personality where I act like one person at
church or among other Christians, yet behave completely differently with
non-believers. Even if I’m alone I need to have integrity. I need to have
integrity no matter where I am or who I’m with because I want to please God
more than anyone else.
Matthew 6:1-8 ~ “Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly,
to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in
heaven. “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow
a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so
that they may be honored and
recognized and praised by men.
I assure you and most solemnly
say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let
your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], so that your charitable acts
will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you. “Also,
when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and
on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your most
private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your
Father who sees
[what is done] in
secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not use
meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words. So
do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Good Character Development
The apostle
Paul tells us that we should be happy for our problems; they offer us
opportunities to put our faith in action. Romans 5:3-4 says, “And not only this,
but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress,
pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character
(spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].”
It’s said you don’t know what you’re made of until you’re faced with difficult situations. So, count it all joy because trials and problems produce good character in us {James 1:2-3}. It strengthens our faith and trust in God, and it shores up our integrity. And if you can have the same honesty and honor in your responses - even when no one is looking - God will bless you for it.
Unexpected
situations don’t have to get the best of you. Lean on your faith and base your
decisions on the integrity God is creating in you because you just never know
when you might be offered a second chance for it.
How have
you responded to difficult situations? Is it hard to be the same person even
when no one but God is looking? Is there an aspect of integrity you would like
to ask God to help you strengthen? God blesses righteous prayers like that. I’m
more than happy to agree with you before God about it. You can contact me on Facebook, Prayer Page or Twitter.
My prayer
for you today is that you will learn to be more like Jesus Christ so your
Heavenly Father can bless you with the integrity that pleases Him. Look we ALL
have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but through Jesus Christ ALL
those sins are washed away and we become children of God, who are given the
strength and tools to fight every battle and overcome the powers of Satan and
his demonic influences in this world {Romans 3:22-25, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18}.
Forever in Jesus Christ service,
Rainbow
Pastor David
Scriptures
for further study
1 Chronicles 29:17 ~ I know also, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness and integrity. In the uprightness ofmy heart I have willingly offered all these things. So now with joy I have seen Your people who are present here, make their offerings willingly and freely to You.
Job 2:3 ~ The Lord said to
Satan, “Have you considered and
reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a
blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from
and turns away from evil
[because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me
against him to destroy him without cause.”
Psalm 25:19-21 ~ Look upon my enemies, for they are many; they hate me with cruel and
violent hatred. Guard my soul and rescue me; do not let
me be ashamed or disappointed,
for I have taken refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness
protect me, for I wait [expectantly] for You.
Psalm 26:1-4 ~ Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have
walked in my integrity; I have [relied on and] trusted
[confidently] in the Lord without wavering and I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my heart and my mind. For Your
lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked
[faithfully] in Your truth. I do not sit with deceitful
or unethical or worthless men, Nor seek companionship with pretenders (self-righteous hypocrites).
Psalm 26:9-12 ~ Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, Nor [sweep away] my life with men of bloodshed, In whose hands is a wicked scheme, And whose
right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I shall
walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful and gracious to me. My foot stands on a level place; In the
congregations I will bless the Lord.
Psalm 41:11-12 ~ By this I know that You favor and delight in me, Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And
You set me in Your presence forever.
Psalm 84:11 ~ For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord bestows
grace and favor and honor;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 101:2 ~ I will behave wisely and follow the way of integrity. When
will You come to me? I will walk in my house in
integrity and with a blameless
heart.
Psalm 119:1-3 ~ How blessed and
favored by God are those, whose way is blameless [those with personal
integrity, the upright, the guileless], who walk in the
law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the Lord. Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, and who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart. They
do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.
Psalm 139 ~ The Lord God thoroughly searches our
hearts
Proverbs 2:7-8 ~ He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous
[those who are in right standing with Him]; He is a shield
to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral
courage], He guards the paths of justice; And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).
Proverbs 4:25-27 ~ Let your eyes look directly ahead
[toward the path of moral courage] and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you
[toward the path of integrity]. Consider well and watch carefully the path of your
feet, and all your ways will be steadfast and sure. Do not
turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk]; Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.
Proverbs 6:16-21 ~ These six things the Lord hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look [the
attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying
tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that
run swiftly to evil, A false witness who breathes out
lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord
(rumors) among brothers. My son, be guided by
your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction) And
do not reject the teaching of your mother; Bind them
continually upon your heart (in your thoughts), and tie
them around your neck.
Proverbs 10:9-12 ~ He who walks in integrity and with moral character walks
securely, but
he who takes a crooked way will be discovered and punished. He who [maliciously] winks
the eye [of evil intent] causes trouble; and the
babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life and his words of wisdom are a source
of blessing, but the mouth of the wicked conceals
violence and evil. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers and overwhelms all transgressions
[forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].
Proverbs 11:1-12 ~ A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord, But an accurate scale is His delight. When
pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then
come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by
trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind. The integrity and
moral courage of the upright will guide them, but the
crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches
will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness rescues
from death. The righteousness of the blameless will
smooth their way and keep it
straight, but the wicked will fall by his own
wickedness. The righteousness of the
upright will rescue them, but the treacherous will be
caught by their own greed. When the wicked man dies,
his expectation will perish; and the hope of [godless]
strong men perishes. The righteous is rescued from
trouble, and the wicked takes his place. With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge and
discernment the righteous will be rescued. When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is
exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn
down. He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.
Proverbs 12:15-22 ~ The way of the [arrogant] fool [who
rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, But a wise and
prudent man is he who listens to counsel. The [arrogant] fool’s anger is
quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense], But a prudent
man ignores an insult. He who speaks truth [when he testifies] tells what is
right, But a false witness utters deceit [in court]. There is one who speaks
rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful
lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is [credited] only for a
moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. No harm befalls the
righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying
lips are extremely disgusting to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Proverbs 20:7 ~ The righteous man who walks in integrity
and lives life in accord with
his [godly] beliefs—How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children
after him [who have his example to follow].
Proverbs 21:2-8 ~ Every man’s way is right in his own
eyes, But
the Lord weighs and examines
the hearts [of people and their motives]. To do
righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. Haughty and arrogant
eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked [their
self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God]. The
plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, but everyone who acts in
haste comes surely to poverty. Acquiring treasures by a
lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death. The violence of
the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a
net], because they refuse to act with justice. The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked, but as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
Proverbs 22:1-4 ~ A good
name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal
integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and poor have a common bond; The Lord is the Maker of them all. A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and
hides himself [from it], But the naive continue on and
are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin]. The
reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and
the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord is riches,
honor, and life.
Proverbs 28 ~ The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. When
a land does wrong, it has many princes, but when the
ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures. A poor man who oppresses and
exploits the lowly is like a sweeping rain which leaves
no food. Those who set aside the law [of God and man]
praise the wicked, but those who keep the law [of God
and man] struggle with them. Evil men do not understand
justice, but they who long for and seek the Lord understand
it fully. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than he who is crooked and
two-faced though he is rich. He who keeps the law [of
God and man] is a wise and
discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons
humiliates his father [and himself]. He who increases
his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest) gathers
it for him who is gracious to the poor. He who turns
his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man], Even his prayer is repulsive [to God]. He
who leads the upright astray on an evil path will
himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will
inherit good. The rich man [who is conceited and relies
on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes, but
the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see
through him. When the righteous triumph, there is great
glory and celebration; But when the wicked rise [to prominence], men hide themselves.
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find
compassion and mercy. Blessed and favored
by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times, but he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall
into disaster. Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A
leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days], But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.
A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)
will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge. He who walks blamelessly and
uprightly will be kept safe, but he who is crooked
(perverse) will suddenly fall. He who cultivates his
land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows
worthless people and frivolous
pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful
(right-minded) man will abound with blessings, but he
who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished. To have
regard for one person over another and
to show favoritism is not good, because for a piece of
bread a man will transgress. He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
and does not know that poverty will come upon him. He who [appropriately] reprimands a [wise] man will afterward find
more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
He who robs his father or his mother and
says, “This is no sin,” Is [not only a thief but also]
the companion of a man who destroys. An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be
blessed and prosper. He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded]
fool, but he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom
will be rescued. He who gives to the poor will never
want, but he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will
have many curses. When the wicked rise [to power], men
hide themselves; But when the wicked perish, the
[consistently] righteous increase and
become great.
Daniel 3:16-18 ~ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered
the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point. If
it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of
blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you,
O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image
that you have set up!”
Matthew 5:8 ~ Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually
mature] are
the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.
Matthew 6:1-8 ~ “Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly,
to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in
heaven. “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow
a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so
that they may be honored and
recognized and praised by men.
I assure you and most solemnly
say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let
your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], so that your charitable acts
will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you. “Also,
when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and
on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your most
private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your
Father who sees
[what is done] in
secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not use
meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words. So
do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Acts 13:22 ~ And when He had removed him, He raised up
David to be their king: of him He testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart [conforming to My will and purposes], who
will do all My will.’ {Passionately
desiring God — seeking to know and follow him with all of our hearts — in spite
of our sinful nature, is the true purpose of life.}
Romans 9:1 ~ I am telling the truth in Christ, I am
not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the
Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 8:21
~ For we have regard for what is
honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in
the sight of men.
Ephesians 4:25 ~ Therefore, rejecting all falsehood
[whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as
these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one
another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].
Philippians 4:8 ~ Finally, believers, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable and
worthy of respect, whatever is right and
confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is
anything worthy of praise, think continually
on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Colossians 3:9-14 ~ Do not lie to one another, for you have
stripped off the old self with its evil
practices, and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge
in the image of Him who created the new self— a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and
Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] barbarian or
Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all
[so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction]. So, as
God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose]
and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever
injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with
one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for
complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you
forgive. Beyond all these things put on and
wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for
everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for
others].
1 Timothy 1:5 ~ But the goal of our instruction is love
[which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
2 Timothy 2:15 ~ Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman
[tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of
truth.
Titus 2:7-8 ~ And in all things show yourself to be an
example of good works, with purity in doctrine [having the strictest regard for
integrity and truth], dignified, sound and
beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent [of the faith] will be
shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
Hebrews 13:18 ~ Keep praying for us, for we are
convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honorably
[that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things.
James 1:26 ~ If anyone thinks himself to be religious
[scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his
tongue but deludes his own
heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).
James 3:17 ~ But the wisdom from above is first pure
[morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous,
considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion
and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and
self-serving guile].
1 Peter 3:10-12 ~ For, “The
one who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or
not], Must keep his tongue free from evil and his
lips from speaking guile (treachery, deceit).
“He
must turn away from wickedness and do what is right. He
must search for peace [with God, with self, with
others] and
pursue it eagerly [actively—not merely desiring
it]. “For the eyes of the Lord are [looking favorably] upon the righteous (the upright), and His ears are attentive to their prayer (eager to answer), but the face of the Lord is against those who
practice evil.”
1 Peter 3:15-16 ~ But in your hearts set Christ apart [as
holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always
be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the
hope and confident assurance
[elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and
respect. And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every
time you are slandered or
falsely accused, those who attack or
disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].
1 Peter 4:17 ~ For it is the time [destined] for judgment to begin
with the household of God; and if it
begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not respect or believe or obey the gospel of God?
