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- Oct 26, 2007
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People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9 NLT
Liars’ lives get complicated fast. They have to remember every falsehood they tell, to whom, when, and why…and try to keep every detail straight when they’re inevitably challenged.
It’s much the same for adulterers, embezzlers, plagiarists, tax cheats, and any of a thousand other kinds of lawbreakers. “Those who follow crooked paths” bring stress and strain into their own lives…since they know, deep down, that they’ll ultimately be exposed.
How much better it is to walk with integrity, to follow Jesus’ Golden Rule, to obey God’s commandments regarding people, money, and things. Sure, even as Christians we’ll occasionally mess up—but part of integrity is quickly confessing our failures to God and the folks we’ve offended. Then we can pick up again with walking in safety.
Why are we tempted to lie, cheat, and steal anyway? Isn’t the problem a lack of trust in God’s provision and protection? If that’s true of you, maybe it would help to memorize Psalm 37:29: “The Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me to trust in Your perfect goodness so I can avoid any and every temptation to cheat. Please make me a man of integrity who always walks safely.
Liars’ lives get complicated fast. They have to remember every falsehood they tell, to whom, when, and why…and try to keep every detail straight when they’re inevitably challenged.
It’s much the same for adulterers, embezzlers, plagiarists, tax cheats, and any of a thousand other kinds of lawbreakers. “Those who follow crooked paths” bring stress and strain into their own lives…since they know, deep down, that they’ll ultimately be exposed.
How much better it is to walk with integrity, to follow Jesus’ Golden Rule, to obey God’s commandments regarding people, money, and things. Sure, even as Christians we’ll occasionally mess up—but part of integrity is quickly confessing our failures to God and the folks we’ve offended. Then we can pick up again with walking in safety.
Why are we tempted to lie, cheat, and steal anyway? Isn’t the problem a lack of trust in God’s provision and protection? If that’s true of you, maybe it would help to memorize Psalm 37:29: “The Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me to trust in Your perfect goodness so I can avoid any and every temptation to cheat. Please make me a man of integrity who always walks safely.
