“6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” – Psalm 51:6 (ESV)
I have seen and been witness to the appearances of integrity and truth. What I mean by the appearances is that I have seen someone talking a good game of things and then I witness just the opposite in their actions. It really speaks to the old saying of “do as I say and not as I do”. Well, that is not the path to real truth in the eyes of God.
Remembering that true integrity is what you do when no one is watching, brings to mind the inward being. It is important that I am seeking to be truthful with my whole self. Saying one thing and then doing another that is contrary, is not being truthful at all. When I am hypocritical in my words and actions, I might as well be untruthful from the start. I am only saying things to impress, when it is more impressive to take action.
How do I get to the inward truth, it starts with my true repentance from my sin. I should be looking for “a deeper purification of the moral life” (ESV Commentary). It is easy for me to simply say the words of repentance, and something entirely different to live repentance. That is something that I struggle with each and everyday. And that is a good thing. It is important that I know where I am doing well and where I am struggling. In order for the that deeper purification to occur, I have to understand that I will not get it exactly right each and every time. I will have inconsistencies and difficult times of getting it right.
It is however that inconsistency and knowing it is there that keeps me humble and striving to be better and more like Christ every day. It is that falling back that gives me the visibility into my more inner self to see the successes and failures that are there. It is that wisdom that comes in the inner self that gives me the ability to be better. It is up to me to seek the inward truth and develop and display it for all to see.
Where are you experiencing truth? Are you finding yourself saying one thing and then acting contrary to those declarations? What if we focused on seeking the inward truth and develop and display if for all to see?
Trevor's Thoughts 