Walking in Integrity: Living Truthfully Before God and Others

Devotional

Day 1: Integrity Is When Your Behavior Matches Your Beliefs

Integrity means living in such a way that your actions and words are consistent with your deepest convictions, not just when others are watching but in every area of life. True integrity is not about outward appearances or reputation, but about the alignment of your inner life with your professed faith. When you walk blamelessly, do what is right, and speak truth from the heart, you draw near to God and stand firm even when the world shakes around you. The promise is clear: those who live with integrity will never be shaken, no matter what storms may come. [01:12]

Psalm 15:1-5 (ESV)
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Reflection: In what area of your life do your actions not match your beliefs, and what is one step you can take today to bring them into alignment?

Day 2: Hypocrisy Cleans the Outside, Integrity Cleans the Inside

It is easy to focus on looking good to others—attending church, saying the right things, and maintaining a spotless reputation—while neglecting the true state of your heart. Jesus warns that cleaning only the outside, while leaving the inside full of greed and self-indulgence, is hypocrisy. Real transformation begins when you allow God to cleanse your inner life, not just your outward behavior, so that your actions flow from a heart that is truly changed. [05:22]

Matthew 23:25-26 (ESV)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean."

Reflection: What is one hidden area of your life that needs God’s cleansing, and how can you invite Him to begin that work today?

Day 3: Radical Honesty Builds Unshakable Relationships

Lies, half-truths, and exaggerations may seem small, but they erode trust and damage relationships with others and with God. God delights in those who act faithfully and speak truthfully, and He calls us to let our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no. Radical honesty—refusing to lie to others, to ourselves, or to God—creates a foundation of trust that cannot be shaken, even when life gets hard. [20:47]

James 5:12 (ESV)
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Reflection: Is there a conversation you need to have today where you need to speak the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable?

Day 4: Use God’s Word as a Mirror, Not a Microscope

It is tempting to use Scripture to judge others, but God calls us to let His Word reflect our own hearts and reveal where we need to change. When you look into the mirror of God’s Word and obey what it shows you, you experience freedom and blessing. Self-deception ends when you stop just listening and start doing, allowing God’s truth to shape your life from the inside out. [25:02]

James 1:23-25 (ESV)
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Reflection: What is one specific command or truth from God’s Word that you have heard but not yet obeyed, and how can you put it into practice today?

Day 5: The Ultimate Integrity—Confessing Christ and Living Authentically

The greatest lie is to pretend you don’t need Jesus, but God offers salvation to all who confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord. Integrity before God means being honest about your need for Him, confessing your sins, and living out your faith publicly and authentically. When you do this, you receive a promise that cannot be shaken: eternal life and a new identity as a child of God. [27:16]

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Reflection: Have you honestly confessed your need for Jesus and publicly declared your faith, or is there a step of faith you need to take today?

Sermon Summary

Integrity is about being the same person in private as you are in public—when your actions match your beliefs. Psalm 15 asks, “Who may dwell in God’s sacred tent?” and answers: the one whose walk is blameless, who does what is right, and who speaks truth from the heart. This is the heart of integrity: not just saying the right things, but living them out, even when no one is watching. It’s easy to post a meme or make a public statement, but true integrity is measured by what we do, not just what we say. Hypocrisy, on the other hand, is cleaning the outside of the cup while ignoring the inside—focusing on appearances while neglecting the heart.

Jesus confronted the religious leaders of his day for this very reason. They were careful to look good on the outside, but inside they were full of greed and self-indulgence. Integrity means letting God clean us from the inside out. Like the story of the tea cup in Afghanistan, it’s not enough to clean the outside; the inside must be pure as well, or the result is spiritual sickness.

Reputation is what others think about us—our “headline”—but integrity is our diary, the truth of who we are when no one is looking. It’s easier to keep integrity than to recover it once it’s lost. Scripture promises that those who walk in integrity will never be shaken. To examine our integrity, we should look at the areas where we are most defensive, most secretive, and most critical. Defensiveness often hides compromise; secrecy hides sin; criticism of others often reflects our own struggles.

How do we live with integrity? It starts with radical honesty: stop lying to others, to ourselves, and to God. Lies destroy trust and community, and self-deception keeps us from true transformation. God’s Word is meant to be a mirror, not a microscope for others. When we confess our sins and worship God in spirit and truth, we are set free. The ultimate lie is pretending we don’t need Jesus. Salvation is not about being good enough, but about believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection and confessing Him as Lord. When we walk in integrity, refusing to live a double life, God promises we will not be shaken—no matter what storms come.

Key Takeaways

1. Integrity is behavior matching belief Integrity is not about outward appearances or public statements, but about the alignment of our actions with our deepest convictions. When our behavior matches our beliefs, we live authentically before God and others. This kind of integrity brings stability and security to our lives, as promised in Psalm 15. [01:43]
2. Examine defensiveness, secrecy, and criticism The areas where we are most defensive, most secretive, or most critical often reveal where our integrity is compromised. Defensiveness hides our inconsistencies, secrecy covers hidden sin, and criticism of others can be a mirror of our own struggles. Honest self-examination in these areas is essential for spiritual growth and wholeness. [11:51]
3. Radical honesty with God, self, and others True integrity requires that we stop lying—not just to others, but also to ourselves and to God. Lies erode trust and keep us from experiencing the freedom God offers. When we use God’s Word as a mirror and confess our sins, we open ourselves to transformation and blessing. [18:03]
4. Salvation is rooted in truth, not performance The greatest lie is pretending we don’t need Jesus. Salvation is not earned by good deeds or religious performance, but by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. This simple act of faith brings us into God’s family and secures our place with Him forever. [26:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Who May Dwell With God?
[01:12] - Defining Integrity
[02:03] - David’s Story and Righteous Indignation
[03:20] - Modern Example: Mark Cuban
[04:07] - Jesus Confronts Hypocrisy
[05:51] - The Tea Cup in Afghanistan
[07:17] - Proverbs on Integrity
[08:30] - Reputation vs. Integrity
[09:11] - Clickbait Christianity
[11:32] - Integrity Is Easier to Keep
[11:51] - Three Areas to Examine
[13:14] - The Dangers of Secrecy
[15:28] - Criticism and Hypocrisy
[17:13] - How to Live With Integrity
[18:03] - Stop Lying to Others
[21:54] - Stop Lying to Yourself
[25:02] - Stop Lying to God
[26:40] - The Truth About Salvation
[30:13] - Two Invitations: Salvation and Baptism

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 15 (ESV) — > O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
> Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
> He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
> and speaks truth in his heart;
> who does not slander with his tongue
> and does no evil to his neighbor,
> nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
> in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
> but who honors those who fear the Lord;
> who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
> who does not put out his money at interest
> and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
> He who does these things shall never be moved.

Matthew 23:25-26 (ESV) — > “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) — > because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 15, what kind of person is able to dwell in God’s presence? What specific qualities or actions are mentioned? [00:33]
In Matthew 23:25-26, what does Jesus criticize the religious leaders for, and what does He say is the right order for cleaning up our lives? [04:07]
The sermon described the difference between reputation and integrity. How did the pastor illustrate this difference? [08:30]
What does Romans 10:9-10 say is required for salvation? [26:40]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Psalm 15 emphasizes both actions (“walks blamelessly, does what is right”) and words (“speaks truth in his heart”)? What does this reveal about God’s priorities for His people? [00:33]
Jesus calls out the Pharisees for focusing on outward appearances. Why is it so tempting to care more about what others see than what’s really going on inside? [04:07]
The sermon mentioned that integrity is “easier to keep than to recover.” What are some consequences of losing integrity, and why is it so hard to get it back once it’s lost? [11:01]
The pastor said the “ultimate lie” is pretending we don’t need Jesus. Why is this considered the greatest deception, and how does it relate to the rest of the message about integrity? [26:40]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to look at areas where we are most defensive, secretive, or critical. Which of these three areas do you find yourself struggling with the most, and what might that reveal about your integrity? [11:51]
Think about a time when your public “headline” (reputation) didn’t match your private “diary” (integrity). What led to that gap, and what steps could you take to close it? [08:30]
The pastor told a story about cleaning only the outside of a cup in Afghanistan, which led to sickness. Are there areas in your life where you focus on appearances but neglect what’s inside? What would it look like to let God “clean the inside” first? [05:51]
Radical honesty was described as stopping lies to others, to ourselves, and to God. Which of these is hardest for you, and why? What is one practical step you could take this week to be more honest in that area? [18:03]
The sermon said that God’s Word should be a mirror, not a microscope for others. How do you tend to use the Bible—more as a mirror for yourself or a microscope for others? What needs to change? [22:43]
The message made it clear that salvation is not about being “good enough” but about confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. Have you ever struggled with feeling like you have to earn God’s acceptance? How does this truth set you free? [26:40]
The pastor said, “When we walk in integrity, refusing to live a double life, God promises we will not be shaken.” What is one area of your life where you need God’s help to walk in integrity, and how can this group support you in that? [29:17]

Sermon Clips

Integrity is when your behavior matches your beliefs. You see, you find this in the words we speak. Have you ever seen somebody that gets mad and they call it righteous indignation? But was there integrity in David's words? There was not because the rest of the story is this, that the prophet Nathaniel took his bony finger and he pointed at David and said, you are the man. It's not just posting memes. [00:01:47] (80 seconds) #IntegrityInAction

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely. But whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. The report card's coming. Oh, I remember that. I remember getting a report card. And you probably don't believe this, but I got a report card. And on the back, the teacher puts notes. And the notes she wrote on my report card. The report card was, Ronnie talks too much. Don't know what she's talking about, Mom. Whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. [00:07:40] (41 seconds) #WalkSecurely

Because reputation is what others think about you. Anybody in here got a reputation? Raise your hand. Pulse. Because you got a reputation. All right. You may not like it. You may not want it. But you got it. And the problem is that when it comes to reputation versus integrity, reputation is the headline. Have y'all been scrolling and the headline catches you? And so you read the article and the article is nothing like the headline. What do they call that? Clickbait. That's right. They call it clickbait. And the truth is, there are many followers of Christ whose life is nothing more than clickbait. [00:08:35] (44 seconds) #ReputationVsReality

Maybe it's unforgiveness. You react with anger when a friend gently points out your bitterness towards somebody that hurt you years ago. And you defend it, saying they don't deserve forgiveness. And you resist Christ's command to forgive as you've been forgiven. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. [00:12:45] (30 seconds) #StopLyingNow

If it's not the area where you're the most defensive or it's not the area where you're the most secretive maybe it's the area where you're the most critical. Criticism often reflects our own struggles. In church we talk about these two topics, legalism versus grace. We harshly criticize another believer for the music that they listen to or the alcohol that they drink while secretly battling their own addiction for approval. [00:15:05] (41 seconds) #StopLyingToGod

You want to live with integrity stop lying to other people and stop lying to yourself and the last stop lying to God. See we need to confess fully and worship in spirit and in truth. [00:25:22] (25 seconds)

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