Coffee With The Lord

Integrity is a big deal!  People who are true to their word and keep their promises, even under duress are not plentiful – but they are valuable!  They can be trusted!  Tony Dungy, great NFL coach and committed Christian emphasizes its importance (see pic).

The Psalmist, David, posed this question and made this strong affirmation:  “Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle [enjoying the potent, profound presence of God]?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart… Who swears to his own hurt and does not change! … He who does these things shall never be moved!” (From Psalm 15)

In my Bible reading this morning, Apostle Paul had given some assurances to the Christians in Corinth about his intention of visiting them.  He was concerned that when he gave an assurance of what he intended to do that he fulfill it, and not be viewed as one who vacillated. He wanted to be true to his word!  Most of all he wanted His word to be like that of God and His Savior, Jesus Christ… True!  Dependable!  Not qualified or vacillating – “yes and no at the same time!”  Inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul declared, “All the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Christ! – In Him they were always ‘Yes!” (From 2 Corinthians 1:.15-20)  God keeps His word!

Listen, I want my integrity to mirror His integrity, don’t you?!

A picture worthy of reflection… How did it “change the world?” In what ways? For whom? For how long? In what ways has it changed “your world?”

Does it ever bother you… the arrogance of the powerful, evil, God-rejecting person?

Well, here’s good news… The Bible predicts and promises ultimate vindication!  Psalm 52 in your Bible declares it… I read it just this morning during “coffee with the Lord” and it helped put things in perspective for me…

Listen, reject hatred!  Don’t try to “get even!”  Leave it to the Lord – He’ll take care of it!  What that does is free you up to be “redemptive!”  Perhaps the person that bothers you in this regard will turn to the Lord before judgment comes and be transformed by God’s grace!! (Check out Romans 12:14-21)

Give Psalm 52 a read and let it do it’s work within you on this topic (here’s an excerpt)…  

^“WHY DO YOU BOAST IN EVIL, O MIGHTY MAN?

THE GOODNESS OF GOD ENDURES CONTINUALLY!

Your tongue devises destruction,

Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

You love evil more than good,

Lying rather than speaking righteousness.

You love all devouring words,

You deceitful tongue.

“God shall likewise destroy you forever;

He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,

And uproot you from the land of the living.

“The righteous also shall see and fear,

And shall laugh, saying,

‘Here is the man who did not make God his strength,

But trusted in the abundance of his riches,

And strengthened himself in his wickedness.’

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

I will praise You forever,

Because You have done it;

I will wait on Your name, for it is good.”

(From Psalm 52 NKJV)