Psalm 101:2 is a hard, key verse. It is echoed in Psalm 26:1, 11. The three statements are:
The three passages challenge me. I have already written about Psalm 101:2 so I won’t repeat that here. But the three together paint a picture for me of committed perseverance. Having walked in integrity once is not sufficient. We cannot rest in past performance. We have to continually choose to do the right thing. We have to choose not to click a link that we know would take us to a picture or a site that would be inappropriate. When we inadvertently encounter something inappropriate we have to immediately choose not to linger.
For men this is a constant, continual, ongoing, never ending, always present battle. In this culture we are bombarded with images from all sides that pull us in to a life of deceit. On our own we cannot hope to withstand the onslaught. It is only through the grace of Christ and the encouragement of others in the battle, Hebrews 3:13 that we can stand in integrity.
Lock arms.
- I will walk in my house in the integrity of my heart…
- I have walked in my integrity…
- I shall walk in my integrity…
Lock arms.
One of the reasons I appreciate Mike's blog is because he challenges me in areas I may not have thought of and recognize the spiritual damage that can result. Another equally helpful (and probably more encouraging) function is to confirm and give validity to what I may be struggling with (and often failing in) to verify I'm at least on the right track.
ReplyDeleteI've found it easy myself to adopt a "spiritual warfare" view in the Bible that has no realistic sense of the reality of that battle. Mike helpfully zeros in on what for me is the toughest battleground - my thoughts. Since I matured (physically) well before the Internet, I'm little tempted in that area (but I know that requires guarding). It's not nearly a tough for me in the sexual area as the Playboy images taped up on my roommate's walls at times in my military days. The multitude of thoughts, in many diverse areas are the real struggle; images I can turn away from. Thoughts must be dealt with, whether discouragement, envy, covetousness, etc.
And I firmly agree, "On my own I cannot hope to withstand the onslaught. It is only through the grace of Christ...." Mike in a real way helps with the "encouragement of others in the battle...."
Great point. The struggle is not just with impurity. It is with right thinking. Philippians is riddled with exhortations to think correctly. Philippians 4:8, is probably the ultimate of what he exhorted but the thread is throughout the book.
DeleteThanks good stuff.