June 1, 2011 … Integrity Means No Compromise!

Blogger’s Note: Okay; those of you who humble me by following along with my journal entries daily or maybe regularly, I give you FAIR WARNING. This month, again with the help of John MacArthur, I’m going to be delving into the subject of Christian integrity by looking at the life of Daniel in the OT. I give you warning, because if you don’t want to grow in Christlikeness, just avoid this month and come back in July for a less convicting study. ;>)

Passage of the Day: Psalm 15: 1 - 2 … [NIV] 1 LORD, who may dwell in Your tent? Who may live on Your holy mountain? 2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart …

Psalm 15: 1-2 [God’s Word Translation] … 1 O LORD, who may stay in your tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2The one who walks with integrity, does what is righteous, and speaks the truth within his heart.

My Journal for today: This month, once again with the help of John MacArthur’s Strength for Today devotional, the focus topic for this month of June will be that of CHRISTIAN INTEGRITY. From today’s passage that would be defined as one who “does what is righteous [and] speaks the truth from within his heart” [i.e., from the spiritual center of one’s being].

Primarily during this study MacArthur will be using passages from the Old Testament book of Daniel, who truly was a living example of the man of integrity spoken of by David in Psalm 15 [please and go read the entire Psalm]. In the New Testament, the Apostle John describes the essence of a truly mature Christian as being one who walks in Christlikeness … see 1st John 2: 3 – 6 …

SCRIPTURE: 1st John 2: 3 - 6 … 3 We know that we have come to know Him [i.e., Christ] if we obey His commands. 4 The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: 6 Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

Does that intimidate you? It sure does me. But, … in our study this month, as we will see, Daniel from the Old Testament, even in anticipation of his Messiah, was just such a man, … living in Christlikeness, not having the advantages which were afforded the Apostle John, who was so personally close to His Messiah, The Christ. Daniel was a man who fit the mold of Christlikeness even before Christ walked the earth. He was one who would not bend to peer or power pressure as the world attempted to mold his faith to fit him into the culture; or he was not one who broke under dire circumstances. He held on to his principles and Godly precepts, even in the threat of death to more than one king. Daniel truly was a man of integrity.

So, as today’s passage teaches, in order for us to have God abiding in our “sanctuary” or “tent” (i.e., our heart), which, of course, signifies our very being, we must walk with uncompromising integrity, … which, for the Christian, translates into Christlikeness and obedience to God’s word.

My Prayer Today: O, Lord, help me be a man of integrity. Amen