Weekly Devotional 4-8-24 Our Conduct of Life
Some time ago I was discussing with a friend the integrity of God. I proffered that God is the measurement of holiness and righteousness. He is not measured by those things; they are measured by Him. There is no other standard by which holiness and righteousness can be measured because there is nothing or anyone more righteous or holy than God, In that God cannot be less than He is, His integrity is consistent with those character-istics and is unchangeable. He is God and will forever be God and never be less than the measurement of holiness and righteousness because He is holy and righteous.
Our discussion led to the consideration of our witness of Him to those to whom we minister, both in conduct and word. In word we should always hold to what has been written about Him in the Scriptures, the Bible. We are warned not to add too or subtract from the gospel. On the other hand, we should be careful in not accepting or supporting what others say about God unless Scripture can support it. Our conduct, that is, what we do in the name of God, should always be governed by His standards not our own.
James, the Lord’s half-brother, and writer of the epistle that bears his name wrote, “22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).
Those to whom James wrote were Christian Jews who had been scattered abroad from Judea following the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). His intent was to encourage them to remain faithful to the Word. As one reads through the “Book of Acts” he or she will find that these scattered converted Jews were multiplied into thousands, and they will find that it was not by their compromising of the truth or an unwillingness to stand firm in defense of the gospel. Many of them were arrested and martyred by Nero and others who tried to put a stop to the spreading of Christianity.
In another testimony of Scripture, “the Book of Hebrews, chapter eleven” we read of many who did not compromise the integrity of God by their conduct of life but lived lives that were uncompromising. I mention only a few here, they should all be addressed, but these mentioned will show the faith that God had wrought in their lives. 7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. – 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. 24By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 31By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Is this not how we are to live, no matter the persecution, the cost? Oh that we might live lives that would exude God’s righteous-ness, His holiness, His integrity, like those mention who went before us. Steve
Stevelampman.com
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