Today’s Reading, Job 24-28
Focal Scripture: Job 27:6 “I will cling to my righteousness and never let it go. My conscience will not accuse me as long as I live!”
What type of person are you? Are you a person that has integrity? Or are you a person who will violate their conscience to achieve a certain goal or agenda? I have had the privilege in my life to work with and be around some of the greatest men of integrity. Their word was their bond. They refused to speak ill of people even when warranted. These men had a standard and that standard always put making the right choice above any personal agenda.
Unfortunately, I have also seen the opposite. I have been around people who claimed righteousness but continually violated what they said was dear to them in their lives. Their conscience was seared by sin and terrible choices. These individuals would say one thing and act another way. One individual would gossip and destroy anyone who disagreed with him behind closed doors. Then publicly would praise them and tell people how much he admired them and loved them. Unbeknownst, to them he had a duplicitous heart. He was very good at showing the side that was needed to win people over. This persons conscience should have accused them but it never showed.
In today’s reading we know that Jobs friends want him to admit his sin. They want him to admit he deserves what is happening to him and admit God is punishing him because of sin his life. However, Job makes it clear he is free of accusation. Job knows that his conscience is clear because he lives a life that is worthy of righteousness. A life that is worthy of honor.
We all have a choice to make as we live our lives. We can be a person who lives with integrity and can never be accused of wrong doing. Or we can be a person who lives in a way where accusations and life reveal a persons heart. A person who is guilty of unrighteousness and has no integrity.
The challenge for you today is simple. When you do wrong, are you convicted of that sin? I don’t mean just the big sins, all sins. For instance, if you gossip about others are you convicted? If you use others to your advantage, does the Holy Spirit bring it to your attention. If not, you don’t have integrity. As believers we should be broken over sin and it should be obvious to us and also others. Our conscience must be clear before the Lord and others.
Integrity matters. It matters because it shows how Christ has changed us in fundamental ways. Don’t associate with people who have no integrity and no conscience. I have personally left a job because the person I was around lacked integrity and conviction over sin.
Be an example that people want to know Christ, not run from Christ.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Job 29-31
