“Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:1-2 (ESV) How refreshing to spend time with a person of integrity! The guard comes down and pretense evaporates because you are in the presence of someone who keeps his or her word. You can count on them. You can trust them because they are trustworthy. You can rely on them because they are reliable. You can depend on them because they are dependable. Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel to affirm the value of a vow. Moses reminded them of the utter importance and vitality of keeping their word. Their conversation was to be consistently supported by their conduct. Their beliefs were to be authenticated by their behavior. Do you keep your word? Are you a person of integrity? Does your conversation line up with your conduct? Take personal inventory of your life to assess the health of your integrity. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Sam 16:7 (ESV) Invite God to search your heart and to unveil anything in your heart that does not bring Him honor. Ask God to reveal any fraction of compromise or deception resident in your life. Be a person of integrity. Keep your word! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Character
“Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. 2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:1-2 (ESV) How refreshing to spend time with a person of integrity! The guard comes down and pretense evaporates because you are in the presence of someone who keeps his or her word. You can count on them. You can trust them because they are trustworthy. You can rely on them because they are reliable. You can depend on them because they are dependable. Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel to affirm the value of a vow. Moses reminded them of the utter importance and vitality of keeping their word. Their conversation was to be consistently supported by their conduct. Their beliefs were to be authenticated by their behavior. Do you keep your word? Are you a person of integrity? Does your conversation line up with your conduct? Take personal inventory of your life to assess the health of your integrity. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Sam 16:7 (ESV) Invite God to search your heart and to unveil anything in your heart that does not bring Him honor. Ask God to reveal any fraction of compromise or deception resident in your life. Be a person of integrity. Keep your word! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 66: Numbers 28-30) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Col 3:15 (NIV) God created us to be relational, not robotic. His designed us for relationship. Sin damaged our relationship with God and He took the initiative to provide for our reconciliation and restoration. In Christ, we have been positioned as righteous before God. Now that our relationship with God has been restored, we are to ensure right relationships with others. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Heb 12:14 (NIV) Our lives have a vertical and horizontal dimension. We are to have a right relationship with God and with others. We cannot have a right relationship with God unless we have a right relationship with others. Also, we cannot have a right relationship with others unless we have a right relationship with God. Once you have received the peace of God by being justified through faith, seek to live at peace with others. Let others see Jesus in you. Love others the way Jesus loves you. Gossip is when you say something about someone you would not say to his or her face. Flattery is when you say something to someone’s face that you would not say behind his or her back. Let the peace of Christ find lodging in your heart and be evident in your conversation and your conduct. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col 3:12 (NIV) What are you displaying for a watching world to see? You are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God. Display the garments you have been given in Christ. As a child of the Living God, you have a spiritual wardrobe that must be put on each day. God places you in the display window of life to give evidence of the reality of Jesus living His life through you. Are you exhibiting the character of Christ? Put on the garment of compassion. Let others see your compassion in action. Put on the garment of kindness. Be gracious and kind toward others by placing their needs before your own. Put on the garment of humility. Don’t think less of yourself; just think of yourself less. Consider others better than yourself (Php 2:3). Be sure to put on the garment of gentleness. Show the tenderness of Christ as you interact with others today. Are you a patient person? Put on the garment of patience and trust God’s timing. Who you are in Christ on the inside needs to be evident on the outside. As you build meaningful relationships with others, demonstrate the character of Christ. As you navigate the difficult places in life, exhibit the character of Christ. God will use the tests you face in life to help build your testimony. When you are squeezed by the circumstances of life, what is on the inside of you will come out. Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Let these garments become the fabric of your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph 4:3 (NIV) Reputation is based on how others perceive you. Character is what you are in private. Character is revealed in crisis. Or another way to say it is that crisis reveals character. Unity flows out of the character of Christ being developed in the life of a believer. God uses every circumstance and situation to build Christ’s character in us. Christlikeness is a process. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (NIV) “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” 1 Cor 15:33 (NIV) God works to conform us into the likeness of Christ. God allows us to experience suffering which is vital in forming the character of Christ in us. God sprinkles godly people into our lives to model Christlikeness as well. Then there are times when we make poor decisions concerning the people we allow to influence our lives. The Bible calls them “bad company.” Are you allowing God to have His way in your life? Do you view suffering from God’s perspective? What kind of people are you being influenced by? Is the character of Christ being formed in you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care