Vindicated by Integrity - Psalms 26-28 and Acts 22
David asked the Lord to vindicate him, because there were many people who hated him and who misunderstood him. I believe God did vindicate him, and He will vindicate us, if we ask Him. However, the main thing that God uses to vindicate His people is their integrity. David was not perfect. None of us are perfect. The key is that David was doing the best he could to be true to the Lord. He was not being a hypocrite. He was not trying to be something he was not. He was trusting the Lord and staying away from evil. Is that what is in your heart? If so, God can use that integrity to vindicate you in the eyes of those who oppose you. They may never agree with you, but they will see that you are being honest about who you are.
When Paul stood before the angry mob, they listened to him as he spoke in Hebrew. Why did the listen? He was giving his story, his testimony. He was a Jew. He was raised as a Pharisee. He was zealous to keep the Law and to persecute Christians. Then, He met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He came to know Him as Lord, so he began to serve Him with all of his might. Since Jesus sent him to the Gentiles, he was doing his best to take the Good News to the Gentiles. The crowd did not agree with Paul. They hated the Gentiles. However, they could not argue with the facts. Paul was a person of integrity. He was doing what he knew God was leading him to do. He was not power hungry, or self seeking in any way. I pray that each of us can say the same thing. I pray that when people get to know us, they see sincere disciples of Jesus, who are simply trying to live a life of faith every day. If that is so, God can use that testimony to touch hearts and to vindicate us in this world.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 29-30 and Acts 23:1-15.
When Paul stood before the angry mob, they listened to him as he spoke in Hebrew. Why did the listen? He was giving his story, his testimony. He was a Jew. He was raised as a Pharisee. He was zealous to keep the Law and to persecute Christians. Then, He met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He came to know Him as Lord, so he began to serve Him with all of his might. Since Jesus sent him to the Gentiles, he was doing his best to take the Good News to the Gentiles. The crowd did not agree with Paul. They hated the Gentiles. However, they could not argue with the facts. Paul was a person of integrity. He was doing what he knew God was leading him to do. He was not power hungry, or self seeking in any way. I pray that each of us can say the same thing. I pray that when people get to know us, they see sincere disciples of Jesus, who are simply trying to live a life of faith every day. If that is so, God can use that testimony to touch hearts and to vindicate us in this world.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 29-30 and Acts 23:1-15.