Joseph ran

My pastor is awesome. Have I mentioned that before? Oh yeah... this is not new news. Anyway, he preached an incredible message this morning... to the teens... but the adults benefitted greatly from it as well. It was a message on integrity, and it was good! He was trying to get across to the teens that making wrong choices has consequences that will follow you the rest of your life. The inverse point was that making right choices will bring great blessing into your life. He preached this message in such a way that the teens could laugh (he was funny) but still say, "whoa... good point." Pastor did a great job relating to them and their culture, because he's BEEN there! You should have seen them squirm when he preached about being "propositioned"... but they were listening intently to every word. He made them aware that he knows what they are facing in this culture, and acknowledged that it is very easy to give in to the pressure. He told them that it is very easy to fool parents and even your pastor. But you'll NEVER fool God. Of course, this point crossed over well in the adult arena. There are people in the church that struggle with things that are sinful, and they think they have people fooled... that they have it all together... but God is not fooled.
I found a short Bible study on the Christian character of integrity online ( http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Bible/Integrity.htm ) and I'd like to share some of it with you here.

What does the Bible have to say about integrity?

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  Integrity means treating people fairly and honestly. (Leviticus 19:35-36, Deut 25:15, Proverbs 16:11-13)
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  Integrity is giving your word and keeping it. (Exodus 8:28-32)
  
• Integrity will protect you. In Psalm 25, David prays that integrity and uprightness will protect him. How can it? (Psalm 25:21, Proverbs 2:7-8, 10:9, 11:3, 13:6)
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  Integrity is more valuable than riches. (Proverbs 28:6)
  The Lord will test and judge your integrity. (1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalm 7:8)
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  The Lord hates lies and lack of integrity. (Zechariah 8:16-17)
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  It may be difficult to maintain your integrity. (Job 2:3, 2:9, Proverbs 29:10)
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  Your character can be corrupted by bad company. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
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  Integrity will be rewarded. (1 Kings 9:4-5, Nehemiah 7:2, Psalm 41:11-12)
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  Your integrity should set an example. (Titus 2:7)

Who do you know that you would describe as a person of integrity? What sets this person apart from other people of a similar age and position?

If people who know you were asked for five words that describe you, would integrity be one of them?What can you do to improve your integrity?

Some powerful questions to think about.... would integrity be a word someone used to describe me? I shudder to think that they may not. Looks like I have room for vast improvement in my Christian character as well. After all, the teens need adults of integrity in the church to look up to as role models, right? Lord Jesus, help me to be a person of upright and moral character... a person who is complete in you. I want my children to have a role model to show them the right way to live. You, Jesus, were the ultimate man of integrity, and you are a perfect role model for all of us! Help me to walk in your way. Amen.