Twelve Stones - Lesson 8 - Integrity

Joshua 4:21-22, ‘…When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know…’

How would you define Integrity?





Here are some synonyms for the word we are studying today:
Honesty, truth, truthfulness, honor, veracity, reliability and uprightness.

The opposite of integrity is dishonesty.

I believe the measure of our integrity is what we do in the dark when no one is watching.

This is my favorite verse on integrity.

Job 2:9, ‘Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.’

It is hard when others are challenging us.
Even harder when it is someone we love and respect.

What can you say about this verse?





Job 27:5, ‘God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.’

He is making a commitment, out loud.
Are we as committed to maintain our integrity?

Your thoughts…





Psalm 26:11, ‘But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.’

Even when we are the only ones on that path we need to keep walking.
We don’t deserve the Lord’s mercy.
And here the author is asking the Lord to be merciful.

What can we take away from this verse?





When I started my business I started searching all the scriptures on integrity.
This is the one I chose.

Job 31:6, ‘Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.’

Others will judge us.
Scrutinize us.
Second guess us.
And tell the world how bad and hypocritical we are.

We aren’t out to impress them.
We may never win over some people.
We need to trust the Lord.
And only seek His approval.

Your thoughts…





Proverbs 11:3, ‘The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.’

It says here our integrity will guide us.
We need to run our decision making through a filter of integrity.
We give children bracelets that say, ‘What would Jesus do.’
I think we need a similar reminder stapled to our forehead.

What advice do you have for us here?





Proverbs 19:1, ‘Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.’

Seldom a day goes by that I don’t say something I regret.
We are all foolish at times.
I don’t believe we are perverse with our lips.

It does seem that we are poor by the world’s standards.
I know I would be a lot better off if I ran my business under the table.
But I don’t want the world’s blessings.

Can you share something similar?





Proverbs 10:9, ‘He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.’

Becky says I’m perverted.
I hope this verse isn’t talking about me.

If we tell others we want to walk in integrity or
Claim we are walking in integrity.
And in our prayers ask the Lord to help us walk right He will.

That might mean exposing some of our weak areas if we don’t clean them up first.

Your thoughts…





Proverbs 20:7, ‘The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.’

We may not get rewarded for our efforts on this earth.
Our reward is waiting for us in heaven.
But it says here our children will inherit something.

What do you think that is?





Psalm 37:25, ‘I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.’

We feel forsaken at times.
Probably more often than not.
But it says that we are not forsaken when we are righteous.
When we are walking in our integrity.
And again a promise for our children.
That promise should motivate us.

What can you share here?





Psalm 41:12, ‘And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.’

Sounds like we need to trust Him to uphold us.
As our works will not maintain our salvation or our testimony.

Your thoughts?





Conclusion

Does anyone remember what the number 8 means from Discipleship 2?





It means new beginnings.
Just like the musical notes.

I think we can take this lesson as a new beginning.
Yesterday doesn’t matter if we gave it to the Lord.
We are starting fresh today.
Right now.

Even if the world is against us.
Even if someone in the pew next to us is telling others of our supposed hypocrisy.
We need to ask the Lord to maintain us.
And have mercy on us when we fail.

Our integrity is not based or measured on our works.
It is weighed by the Lord on His perfect scale.
As we seek His face early and often.

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