Who or What Guides You?
What or who guides your life? Do you listen to the latest fads for direction? Maybe you attempt to find a person who has a new insight into life that can enrich your days. But quite honestly, if you are looking to people for guidance, you must be careful as to who you follow. Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus said, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38).
Integrity is something that is lacking in our day. So many lack integrity, honesty, blamelessness, and righteousness. To have integrity means to be complete in your faith, lacking nothing in your walk with God, and having the morality that is founded in the truth of God’s Word. When you are determined to walk in the ways of Christ, your integrity of your relationship with Christ will guide you. We are not to imitate people, only imitate those who have a deep walk with Christ. Even then, you cannot imitate everything about their life, because they are not perfect as Christ. So when you choose to imitate, only imitate that part of their life that is like Christ. He will never lead you away from the right path.
The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Proverbs 11:3
The Holy Spirit always guides you in the right way. His ministry is to teach you the ways of Christ and to bring to your remembrance all that you have learned of Christ. When God’s Word is in your mind, and the Holy Spirit is your teacher, it is an awesome combination that keeps you living in an upright and righteous integrity. The consistency of your walk in the ways of righteousness will be a model and encouragement to those who are observing your life.
But what of those who are living in the ways of the world? If a person claims to be a good person, but lives a perverse and unfaithful life, then utter destruction will be the outcome. You cannot live a life that ignores God and His Ways and be successful in a life of morality. Stubborn, corrupt, and depraved thinking results in immoral living. This kind of lifestyle does not end in hope, joy, and victory. A perverse lifestyle ends in a lonely, shallow, and hate filled existence. Who wants to live this kind of life? In fact, this is not living at all.
Focus on Self
Focus on your own shallow ways and you will reap shallow relationships. Walk in the Ways of God and you will reap deep relationships built on the love of God flowing through your life. Why would anyone think a perverse lifestyle would end in joyous living? Focus on Christ and you will be guided by His Spirit and His Ways. This will bring a full abundant life that will guide you in the integrity that only comes from righteous living.
© Copyright 2019, Think LifeChange Institute of Biblical Counseling, All Rights Reserved. Kerry L. Skinner and Alison Veazey