What I Need to Keep Things Real

In Psalm 119:9 I read, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (NIV)

Cultures around the world are absolutely obsessed with appearance and image. They’re scooting by, they’re skimming, and they’re cheating. They’re not keeping their promises. They’re pretending to be someone they’re not. They don’t have integrity. In other words, they’re hypocrites.

In ancient Greek culture, actors were referred to as hupokrites because they pretended to be someone else. It’s where we get the word “hypocrite.”

When I act one way with one group of people and another way with another group of people, I’m being a modern-day hupokrites. I’m showing a lack of authenticity—a lack of integrity. But God wants me to be exactly who he made me to be, no matter who is watching.

So how do I—as a follower of Jesus—keep it real when so many people are faking it? 

There’s only one way. I’ve got to care more about God’s approval than the approval of other people. That’s the only way I can ever become a person of integrity. 

If I care about what God thinks, I’m going to do the right thing. But if I care more about what other people think, I’ll likey do the wrong thing.

Today’s verse in Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” (NIV).

The only way to know what God approves of and what he thinks of me is by reading the Bible. I must stay in God’s Word! If I don’t, I will not have the strength and the stamina to live with integrity.

If I don’t have a daily quiet time with God, if I miss it for even a few days, I notice it. If I didn’t stay connected to God through his Word, 

Living with integrity takes spiritual power because what is right is often unpopular. On my own, I’ll get tired trying to do the right thing, trying to be real, and trying to keep the right motives—so I need to be equipped and refreshed.

To live as a person of integrity—someone who is the same no matter where I am or who I’m with? Then commit to spending daily time reading and studying the Bible, God’s Word. It’s the only place I’ll find the spiritual power I need.