Coffee With The Lord

Let’s play a little word game that came to mind during my time of “coffee with the Lord” today – matching a word with its “antonym” (its opposite)… Let me set you up – the word we’re matching with is “integrity” … Now think about it; what word would you choose as an antonym (an opposite word) for “integrity?”

The passage I was reading in my Bible that provoked this thinking was Job 27 – a passage where Job declares his commitment to personal “integrity.” In in, Job declares, “Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me! My righteousness I hold fast, I will not let it go! My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live!” (Job 27:4-5) In fact, all of Job 31 is a studied defense of his sustained integrity with the repeated phrase; “If I have…”

And Job was not the only one who defended and asserted his integrity – God did! Twice these words are declared by God to Satan (the “accuser”) regarding Job: “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is not like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) And then God’s assertion regarding Job’s integrity appears again in Job 2:3: “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause!”

So… What is the “antonym” – the opposite of “integrity?” I would argue it is “HYPOCRISY!” …Claiming virtue, goodness, righteousness but hiding evil, perversion, dishonest, and bad behavior. Seeking to convince others by your actions that you’re good, holy, and a person of integrity but covering up bad behavior and character with deceit.

Hey, my guess is your list of people of integrity is a lot shorter than your list of hypocrites! I know mine is! Look around you in politics, business, entertainment, and leadership in general… plenty of hypocrites! Not a lot of people of genuine integrity!

God help me – I want to be a person of integrity – don’t you?

How can it happen? Well, I’m convinced (and the Bible teaches) it is an “inside-out” thing! I believe it begins by being “born again” – a Spiritual “rebirth” and having God plant His “spiritual DNA” within our lives! (John 3:6-8,16) Then, as we cooperate with what God, by His Spirit would do within our lives, integrity becomes a reality! (Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 2:19-25) And then there’s the important process of “being transformed by the renewing of our minds” daily with the help of God’s word and the Holy Spirit coupled with our will (Romans 12:1-2).

Oh, I want to be a person of integrity before God and others – “true-blue – inside-out!” Don’t you?

Ever been tempted to do something that might harm or hurt another person? If so, Romans 13:8-10 is a good passage to read and think about… I read it again just this morning during “coffee with the Lord” … Here’s some ideas from that passage…

• Owe someone some money and really don’t want to pay it? … Show love, and pay it!
• Tempted to be unfaithful to your wife (or husband) and “fool around” with someone else? … Love your spouse with all your heart and be faithful!
• Has someone really been bugging you so much you’d almost like to “kill ‘em? … Don’t do it! Show them love instead.
• Have you been tempted to take something from someone else that doesn’t belong to you? … Leave it alone – it’s not yours! Love will keep you from stealing!
• Does someone have something you really want and your desire for it is “driving you nuts” (and even influencing your attitude to them)? … Love them and get your eyes and heart off their stuff!

And I could go on… The dynamic of authentic, godly love will solve those problems!

You think it’s not in there (in Romans 13.8-10)? Read it! Here’s what it says…

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”

So I guess this is what I ought to say to the Lord this morning… “Thanks, Lord… I needed that! Help me live every moment, in every situation, to show those around me authentic, godly love – the kind of love God has for people and the love Jesus exhibited by dying on the cross for our sin!

Read these words yesterday during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” … thought about them, reflected, and said to myself, I’m grateful that I’ve done that – certainly not perfect yet, but rejoiced at being “transformed!”

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship! Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Then today I read the passage that follows… felt conviction, and jotted this in the margin of my Bible… Oh, help me Lord to live this way… every day… In “my Rome!” Check it out…

“Let love be genuine!

Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord!

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer!

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another!

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.!

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!” (Romans 12:9–21 ESV)

See what I mean? You too, huh? Help me Lord to live like this in “my Rome!” More transformation needed!