Model of Good Works

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned,”

” please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart”

Psalms 26:1   Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.  I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

2 Corinthians 1:12  For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Titus 2:7  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Acts 20:33  I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.  You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

2 Kings 20:3  “Now, O LORD, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Proverbs 20:7  The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 29:25   ……but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

What would our lives look like if we showed integrity, dignity, sound speech, or did not covet another money or position, working hard, helped the weak, walked in faithfulness, trusted God fully, and did not waver in our purpose to humbly serve, honor and obey God?  These all are aspects of growing in understanding and knowledge of God and choosing to apply them in our lives.  There has to be commitment, sincerity, and desire that is more than a thought.  It has to be a continually growing heart deep desire.  The confusion in this life-walk is to often the food that fuels our actions and is derived from what our mind takes in.  How much daily time is given to reading God’s word, meditating on it, praying, seeking Him and His purpose, listening to what His word is speaking to your heart, and discerning what is right?  James says if we read it and do not have works aligned with what we have read it is like looking into a mirror and forgetting what you look like.  Our lives should be a reflection of what we have read, God’s leading and our obedience to follow and apply/obey.

 

Integrity

“O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.”

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

Psalms 25:20  Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

Psalms 121:7   The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

Psalms 71:1-2   In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!

Joel 2:26  “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you

Proverbs 20:7     The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 11:3   The integrity of the upright guides them

Acts 24:16   So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Psalms 18:20  The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.  For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.  I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.  So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

Psalms 7:8   The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

Psalms 26:11  But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.

Having strong moral principles and being honest deserve some thought.  How do we judge our moral principles (integrity)?  By what standard do we use or should we use to know our moral compass has the right heading?  If the culture of our society says murder is ok would we have moral principles if we agreed with this?    One example; Worldwide 40-50 million living babies in the womb are killed every year.  Do our moral principles say this is wrong or right?  It is critical to understand what we base our principles on.  It can get very confusing.  Social media at our finger tips can easily play into defining our moral stance. Where do we find solid ground?  How do we stay grounded and not moved?  God’s word says that His laws have been written on every mind and heart.  For the most part we know wrong from right but for some reason we seem to want to define our own wrong and right – we justify it in our mind.  If we question our stance, as it may be contrary to what God is speaking to our heart, we search out others who think the same and then justify our stance on like minded people.  David said he the ways of the Lord, and God’s rules and statutes were never put away.  He kept them before himself.  Writing them on his heart and mind, meditating on them when the sun rose and set.  God’s word is truth – if you don’t start here you will never have a basis on which to stand that has eternal benefit.  Every person gets to decide if they will believe in God, believe He will judge every man, believe there is nothing hidden from God, believe He alone has salvation, believe God will lead and direct them, believe God will protect them, believe God will be their salvation on the day of judgement, believe there is both heaven and hell, believe God will hear their prayer, believe God is living and ever present, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO BASE THIS ON HIS WORD.