Integrity - What everyone should possess!

 What is the definition of the word 'integrity'? 

Many people give many answers to the word, but let us read this definition which explains it better. 

Integrity is "what you know on the inside matches what do you on the outside."

Let me illustrate this point with a short story:

There was an old make-believe country where only ducks lived. On Sunday morning, all the ducks came into the church, waddled down the aisle, waddled into their pews, and squatted. 

Then the duck minister came in, took his place behind the pulpit, opened the Duck Book, and read. "Ducks, you have wings, and with wings you can fly like eagles. You can soar into the skies! Ducks! You have wings!!!" Then all the ducks yelled, Amen Amen. and then they all all waddled home.

Many people are actually like those ducks. They know the truth, but they don't act upon the truth. In other words, they don't have integrity. 

A person with integrity has the three basic qualities:

1. Faithfulness

2. An uncompromising lifestyle

3. Purity

In today's fast changing world, it is extremely difficult to live a life of integrity, but that is what God is called each one of us to do.

Let us live our lives with INTEGRITY. 

Importance of Holiness in Christian life

 There is a question which many people ask me: 

Can holiness save us? 

Can holiness put away sin and cover iniquities? 

The answer is a big NO. The answer is that ONLY JESUS can redeem you and only HE can save us from all sin. In the book of Ephesians it is written that we are saved by grace alone and not by our works. 

Holiness is very essential once we accept Christ and start living a Christian life. We become the children of God and then we need to portray his image in this world. We cannot live an unworthy life and ask God to be with us. He is a Holy God and he cannot tolerate filth. 

Let me answer a few points as to why one should be Holy:

1. We must be holy because the voice of God in the scripture commands us to be holy. In I Peter 1:15, 16 is says 'Be ye Holy as I am Holy'. It is a direct command from God to be holy. 

2. We need to be holy because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world. Jesus died for all so that they may all live a holy life which is acceptable and pleasing to the father. 

3. We should be holy because this the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. 

4. We need to be holy because this the only sound evidence that we are true children of God. 

5. We need to be holy because without holiness on earth, we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. 

Holiness - That is what God desires of us

 Let us discuss on Holiness - that is what the Lord desires of us these days. 

There is a verse in the Bible which says "Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" Hebrews 12:14

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the wise man tells that there is a time for everything under the sun, a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,...Ecc 3:4,7, but there is no time, no not in a day, in which a man ought not to be holy. 

We are all busy in this world and each one is after fulfilling their destiny. Let us stop for a moment and consider the matter of holiness. 

A man may go great lengths, and yet never achieve true holiness

Balaam - very knowledgable; Judas Iscariot - had the best teacher; Herod - had zeal for certain matters in religion, and so on.. we see that in Bible many people had many passions, but without holiness, all of them perished. 

Let us understand what is practical holiness and how we can achieve it ?

1. Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgement, hating what he hates, and loving what he loves, and measuring everything by the standard of His word. 

2. Holy man will hate everything that is called sin. He will have a holy hatred toward sin as mentioned in Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the Lord is to Hate evil. A holy man will hate all kinds of evil, but will love the sinner and will pray for his / her salvation.

3. A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. In thought and in deed, he would like to be like our saviour. 

4. A holy man will follow after meekness, longsuffering, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, keeping in control of his tongue etc. He will not be in a hurry to do anything, but will learn to wait on God. 

5. A holy man will follow after charity and brotherly kindness. 

These are 5 points which talk about practical holiness. 

We will discuss more about this topic in the following blog posts. 

Lessons from the book of Daniel

 I have been reading the book of Daniel from the Bible since a few days. I have learnt a few lessons and would like to share them here:

1. From verses 8 to 16 in the first chapter we learn that we need to 

    a. Stand firm in our faith and honor God in every decision. 

    b. Look to Him when faced with temptation to deny Him or to turn from His ways. 

    c. Believe that He will either provide a way of escape or the grace to endure. 

    d. Ask God to give us favor, wisdom, and creative alternatives so that we can remain obedient and

        bring glory to Him.

2. From verses 12 - 18 in the third chapter, we learn that we need to 

    a. Refuse to compromise Godly standards. 

    b. Regardless of the consequences, we need to place our trust in God and maintain our stand for                     righteousness.