Hey Tribe!!!

Thanks for coming to Vibe last night.  It was a great time and it was great to see so many of you there.  We still talking about the impact of grace on our lives.  When grace impacts your life it should look drastically different.  Last night we talked about the area of integrity.  A lot of us live between two worlds when it comes to integrity.  There is one camp that thinks as long as I am obeying the words of Jesus with my actions outwardly, I am okay.  I may dread every minute of it but I am obeying Christ.  Jesus is very clear that when you do that, you are like a whitewashed tomb.  You look great on the outside, but on the inside you are DEAD MEN'S BONES!  Your spiritual life is dead because Jesus wants your heart, not just outward obedience.  

The other camp says that if I love Jesus and Jesus loves me, we have an understanding.  I can do whatever I want, and ask for forgiveness later.  That also is flawed thinking.  If you are in a relationship with someone, there are certain rules to it.  If you love that person, you will treat that person well.  God is the same.  If you truly love Him, you live a the way He wants you to.

The passage that we looked at was 1 Chronicles 28:8-10 where David told his son Solomon that he was to pursue God with a "whole heart" and "willing mind".  I think integrity requires us to pursue God with a whole heart and not a divided one.  Sure it is okay if you have other interests and have hobbies as long as God is glorified through them.  He also wants you to open your mind to His teaching.  Not to hand your brain over and not think.  God gave you your brain to think with but open it to His teaching.    

Here were the bullet points for practicing your integrity:

1. Don't Hide Your Sin - Confess it to God and someone you trust.

2. Don't Rename Your Sin - God searches your heart and mind.  He knows what's in it.  Call sin, "SIN".

3. Follow What is Right - The Bible is full of commands.  Read it!  Then follow them.

4. Forgive Yourself - If you confess your sin.  God forgives it (1 John 1:9).  If God forgives you, who are you not to forgive yourself.

Have a great week guys!  I look forward to seeing you next week.  Peace.

Matt