I can tell you, people who are faithful, dependable, honest, and true to their word are appreciated… and rare! Ethics and integrity matter… they matter a lot! Those who claim to be Christians should be people of integrity and the highest ethics!
This morning in my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a personal statement of ethics by Apostle Paul that deeply challenged me! No, it did more than that… it convicted me! It caused me to pause and confess my personal lapses in integrity and repent of them! In the words of an old cross-country coach I had in high school… “No excuses!”
Here is Apostle Paul’s statement of personal ethics and integrity…
“I can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings! We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines… Do you think I am like people of the world who say ‘Yes’ when they really mean ‘No’? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ He is the one who… is God’s ultimate ‘Yes,’ he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for his glory.” (from 2 Corinthians 1:12–20 NLT)
So this morning, first of all I jotted in the margin of my Bible these words: “I want to live this way!” And then I paused and prayed asking the Lord to help my live with that level of integrity… EVERY day of my life… EVERY moment I live! Following Apostle Paul’s example is one thing… Following Christ, my Savior, is quite another! With God’s help I intend for follow Him!
Coffee With The Lord 