Keeping Our Word

Please join me today as we gain some Biblical perspective on what it means to keep our word, especially when our words and actions should always represent God's Word...

Keeping Our Word - Your Character Precedes You

I have always prided myself on living in honesty and integrity.  My kids will tell you that I would constantly say to them, "Your character precedes you.  Make sure it is a good one."  For indeed, our past behavior predicts how we are received in the future.

I've shared my testimony here at the blog in my post entitled Miss Goody Two Shoes.  As you will read, I seemed to be born with a desire to be good.   I had a very active guilty conscience that would stop me in my tracks before doing something wrong.  That's not to say I never did anything wrong... As I shared in that blog post, once I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior I became aware of just how sinful I was - even in my Miss Goody Two Shoes shoes!

But having said this, when describing someone with good character, I, for the most part, fell into that category.  

I ran my own medical transcription business for 13 years.  It was soooo important to me that I handled the transcription with upmost confidentiality and billed my clients with upmost honesty and integrity.

In any positions I've held outside of my own jurisdiction, I've handled myself with honesty and integrity.  Ironically enough, my most recent position was Confidential Secretary to the School Committee, a title I lived up to.

In fact, I believe my past experience doing medical transcription was instrumental in me being chosen for that position because of its confidential nature.  Showing true that "past behavior indeed predicts how we are received in the future..."

Keeping Our Word - I'll Believe it When I See It

What about dealing with people who never keep their word.  People who make empty promises.  Most of the time, we adopt an "I'll believe it when I see it attitude".   

Kind of like the boy who cried wolf.  Nothing these type of people say can be received with any seriousness.

I don't know if those who don't keep their word time and time again set out to do so, but I know it can be very frustrating and very disappointing.

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.   Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Matthew 5:34-37

Keeping Our Word - In Word Only

I have never been a people pleaser.  Some might say that is a character flaw. lol.  I don't have a problem saying "no" if asked to do something.  I actually think it is better to say "no" to something that either you don't have the time, talent or treasure to complete rather than say "yes" and then end up complaining about doing it and becoming resentful.

Here is an instance where when we say yes to something and do it, we have kept our word, but cancelled out bringing Glory to God by our poor attitude.  So have we really kept our word?...

Keeping Our Word - God's Word

There are so many admonishments in the Bible, like the one above in Matthew, that the Lord has put into place so that we will be successful in bringing glory to God with our words and actions.

Because when we are in His Word, our words and actions, reflect Jesus Words and actions.

But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him:

 Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

1 John 2:5-6 Amplified Classic

The reality is OUR words don't mean anything, even our best intended words, if they are not coming from a place saturated by the Word of the Lord.  

I love how the amplified version of 1 John 2:5-6 above expanded upon this verse...

who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its ENTIRETY

Oh to constantly have the Lord's precepts on our minds, to daily observe His message in its entirety!  For then the love of God has been perfected and matured within us.

When the Word of God has crowded out the words of the world and self from our minds, then and only then do we truly keep our word.  Because our words are now Christ's words.

For when we treasure His words in our hearts, they will permeate every part of our being.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:2

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!  

Psalm 119:10

I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 119:18

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

For similar posts, click on the following:

Clean Your Plate!

The Voice - Bible Edition

How to Study the Word of God Effectively

May we all enjoy the benefits of keeping our word - His Word.  For they are life to us and a beacon to a dying world.

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