Tag: integrity
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Prospering in a Prison – Genesis 39:22-23
Genesis 39:22-23 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he…
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When Truth Is Silent – Genesis 39:13-19
Genesis 39:13-19 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie…
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Run, Don’t Reason – Genesis 39:10-12
Genesis 39:10-12 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of…
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Seen by God – Genesis 39:7-9
Genesis 39:7-9 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my…
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Blessed Because He Was There – Genesis 39:5-6
Genesis 39:5-6 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake;And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.And he left…
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Seen in the Night – Genesis 31:38-42
Genesis 31:38–42This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether…
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The Deal Was Barely Made Before Laban Started Cheating – Genesis 30:33-36
Genesis 30:33-36So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according…
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Seeming and Being – Genesis 27:11-15
Genesis 27:11-15And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him,…
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The Price Behind the Politeness – Genesis 23:12-15
Genesis 23:12-15 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my…
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Humility Is Not Silence – Genesis 21:25
Genesis 21:25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. I like this because it shows balance. Abraham had just been humble. He did not argue or defend himself. But when it came to the well, he spoke up. He did not stay quiet just to keep…
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God Is With You Even in Ordinary Things – Genesis 21:22-23
Genesis 21:22, 23And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with…
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Because I Thought – Genesis 20:7-12
Genesis 20:7-12… and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him,…
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Integrity Matters – Genesis 20:4-6
Genesis 20:4-6But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God…
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The Cost of Compromise – Genesis 12:14-16
Genesis 12:14-16 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had…
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When Your Children Walk in Truth – 2 John 4
2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. There is joy in this verse that every parent, every pastor, every grandparent, every spiritual leader can feel. John says, “I rejoiced greatly.” Not mildly. Not politely. Greatly. Why? Because he found children…
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Nothing to Hold Against You — Titus 2:8
Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Paul continues speaking to young men, and now he narrows the focus even further. Your speech. “Sound speech,” he says. The word sound again carries the idea of…
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A Life Worth Following — Titus 2:6–7
Titus 2:6–7 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. Paul now turns his attention to young men. His instruction is surprisingly simple. “Be sober minded.” Clear thinking. Steady judgment. A young man who is not driven by impulse, ego,…
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No Shortcuts for Believers — 1 Timothy 6:2
1 Timothy 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. There is a strange temptation that can creep in when faith and work overlap. If a believer…
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Faith at Work — 1 Timothy 6:1
1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. Paul now moves from church leadership to something far more ordinary but just as important. Work. Most believers do not spend their days preaching…
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What Time Eventually Reveals — 1 Timothy 5:24–25
1 Timothy 5:24, 25 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. Paul ends this section with a simple truth about life that experience proves over and over again. Time…
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Slow Hands in Leadership — 1 Timothy 5:21–22
1 Timothy 5:21, 22 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. Paul suddenly raises the seriousness of the moment.…
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Lead by Example — 1 Timothy 4:12
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Timothy was young, and Paul knew people might notice that before they noticed anything else. In those days age carried weight. A young leader could easily…
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Women Who Can Be Trusted — 1 Timothy 3:11
1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Paul pauses in the middle of his discussion about deacons and turns his attention to women. Now it is worth noticing something. The words must their are in italics, which means they were supplied by translators. They are…
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The Kind of Man Who Serves — 1 Timothy 3:8
1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Paul shifts from overseers to servants. Not the men up front teaching every week, but the ones making sure the lights are on, the tables are set, the widows are cared for, the needs…
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A Good Report — 1 Timothy 3:7
1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Paul does not stop with what a man looks like inside the church. He says look outside. How is he known by those who do not sit in the…
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Proven at Home — 1 Timothy 3:3–5
1 Timothy 3:3–5 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of…
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A Man Who Can Be Trusted — 1 Timothy 3:2
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Paul begins with a word that levels the room. Blameless. If that meant flawless, we could close the Bible right here and go home. No one would qualify. Not you.…
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Will Not, Not Cannot — 2 Thessalonians 3:10
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. That verse gets quoted with a certain tone sometimes. You can almost hear the gavel hit the bench. “If any would not work, neither should he eat.” But slow down. Paul…
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An Example That Costs — 2 Thessalonians 3:6–9
2 Thessalonians 3:6–9 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;Neither did we eat…
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Test It. Keep It. Walk Away. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22
1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.Abstain from all appearance of evil. Paul does not tell believers to swallow everything. He says, “Prove all things.” Test it. Examine it. Lay it against Scripture.Measure it by the character of Christ.Watch the fruit it produces. Christian maturity is not gullibility. It is…
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The Reward and the Reckoning – Colossians 3:24–25
Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Most people work for a paycheck.Some work for applause.A few work for legacy. But Scripture says something deeper. You serve the Lord Christ. That changes the entire motive of your life. An observer once…
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Technically True – Colossians 3:9
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Paul moves from anger and corrupt speech to something more subtle. Do not lie. Not just blatant fabrication. The word carries the idea of bearing false witness. In Matthew 26, two witnesses stepped forward against Jesus.…