Britta Lafont

Britta Lafont

  • Home
  • Hi! I’m Britta
  • Read the Blog
  • Contact Me
  • My Books
  • Speaking

March 11, 2014 · 2 Comments

Integrity is Timeless

Integrity

integrity-is-timeless

I used to think that the God of the Old Testament was somehow different from the God of the New Testament.  I had heard somewhere, when I was a kid, that Jesus was nicer than His fire and brimstone Father.  I heard that Jesus was more compassionate and more merciful.  I didn’t know about God’s Compassion and Mercy in those days.  It didn’t occur to me that Jesus, being One with the Father, would be the same as He is (John 10:30).

These days, I hear familiar whispers that separate Jesus from the Father and “Old Testament” thinking from “New Testament” ways.  People often talk about Jesus as though He has lowered the standards set by Yahweh.  I have heard this quote a lot lately to support a lowered standard: And as they continued to ask Him, He stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ (John 8:7).  But this Word from Jesus doesn’t lower God’s standard, because a lower standard wouldn’t require His mercy.

the standard To the woman caught in adultery, and to all of us, Jesus shows Grace (unmerited favor) and then says to repent and to “go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11).  When we encounter the Grace of Jesus Christ, we cannot remain as we once were…we are called to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).  In fact, His Spirit alive in us, enables us to grow in righteousness and learn obedience.

The deposit of the Holy Spirit, in us, is a gift from God the Father, wrought by the work of His Son.  Centuries before Jesus came, the LORD promised all of this:  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Did Jesus change everything by coming to live among us and dying so that we might live with Him?  Yes.  And no.  Yes, Jesus is Emmanuel  God with us, which is simply miraculous.  But no, God’s plan has always been to create relationship with His people.  

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to His children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
    He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:11-14).

Jesus embodies the old adage: the more things change, the more they stay the same.  And isn’t that a comfort?  Isn’t it a relief that all of God’s Word is useful and consistent and True?  This week’s memory verse is another example of Jesus demonstrating the continuity within God’s Word:

  • Jesus said this: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).  Jesus, being an observant Jew, was quoting the Shema: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deuteronomy 6:5).
  • Jesus said this: And a second [commandment] is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:39-40).  Here Jesus is quoting an Old Testament teaching, which was very well known at the time: You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD  (Leviticus 19:18).

unchanging

God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change his mind Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19).  Of Himself, He has said, “For I the LORD do not change.” (Malachi 3:6).  He is The Great I AM.  And the Son is like the Father: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

I really find comfort in the sameness of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In a world full of disappointment, God comes through for us.  He is dependable and reliable.  He is steady.  He demonstrates Integrity: (1) doing the right things for the right reasons (2) Wholeness (3) Stability.  This is why we are called to imitate Him.  He is perfect.

blessingssignature

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Don’t miss out!

« Memory Verse Monday: March 10
What We’re Reading Lately (WWRL) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy says

    March 11, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    Yes!!! I am comforted by your use of His mighty Word…

    Reply
    • Britta says

      March 12, 2014 at 6:39 am

      Thank you!! I think this post has 39 revisions – the dashboard keeps track. I am not exaggerating. It is good to hear that they worked to make my thoughts coherent. It sure took a while! Lovely to hear from you, dear friend!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Britta Cancel reply

Footer

Curate: collect and display evidence of God's goodness.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Want to come with?

Best Thanksgiving that I can remember. I am so gra Best Thanksgiving that I can remember. I am so grateful for my people!! 🤗 ❤️@graciethenerd @thecardboardqueen @lafonte04 
#Psalm8 #highlandlakes #birminghamalabama
My friend @amy_young1234 is so generous! She has f My friend @amy_young1234 is so generous! She has found a way to share her birthday with friends all year long. This past week, I had to privilege to be her #FOTW You can read about her plan to celebrate her birthday by celebrating others in the link to her blog at the end of this post. That’s SO like Amy. 🤗 https://www.messymiddle.com/52-cards-52-weeks-52-years/ #curatingthegood
Glorious weather in BHam today. ❤️ Enjoying be Glorious weather in BHam today. ❤️ Enjoying being outside for a bit!! Scout is on the hunt. Bugs beware!! #cairnterriersofinstagram #curatingthegood #highlandlakes
He puts himself to bed! #doggo # curatingthegood He puts himself to bed! #doggo # curatingthegood
Thank you eBay and USPS! Desperate times call for Thank you eBay and USPS! Desperate times call for desperate measures!! #redbeansandrice #camelliaredbeans #curatingthegood
Enjoying a day off from work with the fam. Gracie Enjoying a day off from work with the fam. Gracie and I went for a walk by the Lake. Plenty of #socialdistancing on the trail! Such a beautiful day!! #curatingthegood #highlandlakes #birminghamalabama #springbreak2020 @graciethevoltronfan
Apocalypse cookies—when you don’t have enough Apocalypse cookies—when you don’t have enough milk choc chips OR semi sweet chips, so you add them together and make up for the remaining difference with walnuts! #curatingthegood @graciethevoltronfan @lafonte04
  • Got Enough?
  • You Need THIS
  • Got Joy?
  • You’re Called to THIS
  • Got Good?
  • You Were Made for THIS

Copyright © 2021 · beloved theme by Restored 316

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.