How do you define integrity? Many
people will define it in a plethora of ways. Some people define integrity as always
doings what you say you will do. Others will say that integrity is matching the
public person to the private person. Still others might say integrity is doing
the right thing no matter how hard, costly, or devastating it might be. In our
society we hold integrity with very high value.
Sadly, too often we have seen countless
examples of people who were known for their integrity, but one misstep, one
thoughtless action, one lazy moment caused the integrity they had worked so
hard to build to be completely shattered. In the sports world the examples are
endless … Jim Tressel of Ohio State, Joe Paterno of Penn State, Lance
Armstrong, etc. It does not end with sports, we find the shattering of integrity
in the news media, in our government, and sadly even in our pulpits. If the
people we hold in high esteem cannot foster genuine integrity, how can we?
The answer is simple … a daily walk
with Christ. A great beginning place can be found in the words of David in
Psalms 101:2-3 … “I will be careful to live a blameless life-when will you come
to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to
look at anything vile and vulgar.” (NLT) I love this. Integrity begins in your
own home, it is protected even when no-one is watching, it begins with the
people you love and care about on the most intimate of levels. It’s owning up
to your mistakes and never trying to hide something under a rug. It’s seeking
forgiveness as soon as a realization is made of wrong doing. It’s growing daily
in authenticity. That’s the key … integrity begins with a daily walk with
Christ.
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prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If
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