PSALM 15:1-5: “O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.” (ESV)
OBSERVATION: Am I a man of integrity? This is a question that comes to my mind and heart often. What does this question mean? To me it is the call to be transparent and transformed. It is to live a life that is being changed from the inside out. It is to live consistently with my profession of faith. It is to become like Jesus Christ.
When I read Psalm 15 I think of a man of integrity. I also realize how much I fall short at times. I want to be like Jesus Christ, but in all honesty – I have a long way to go. In Psalm 14 David also writes –
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:1-3 ESV)
Paul quotes this very passage in Romans 3 to show that every man and woman are guilty of sin. The reprobate, the moralist, and the religious – all fall seriously short of the call of God. So much for integrity! If this is where the story ended it would be quite a hopeless journey. Who could save us from such a hopeless situation? Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in Christ Jesus!
The promise of righteousness, the transformation that brings integrity in our lives, does not come through our human effort – it comes through faith. Paul writes in Romans 5 –
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 ESV)
My access into the presence of God, my ability to be transparent and transformed, comes through faith in Jesus Christ. I can “sojourn in His tent”, I can “dwell on His holy hill”, because of what Jesus Christ has done for me on the Cross. I receive His forgiveness and full acceptance when I give my life to Him in faith. I come to God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, not through my own merit or works. I am fully accepted by God because, when he looks at me, He sees Jesus. I am clothed in Jesus’ righteousness (and integrity). As I abide in Christ something wonderful happens. His imputed righteousness begins to transform my life and I begin to experience personal righteousness. Jesus Christ begins the lifelong process of leading me into transparency and transformation. Jesus Christ begins to transform me into a man of integrity!
Heavenly Father, I come to You this morning through faith in Jesus Christ. I recognize that my righteousness is only found in His righteousness. I stand complete in Jesus Christ, even though I am yet incomplete. There remains a gap between what you have called me to be and what I am at this moment. I pray that as You transform me through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and by Your Spirit, I can become the man of Psalm 15. Lord, lead me into transparency and transformation so that I can truly be a man of integrity – by grace through faith. In Jesus Name!
