Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:17 - I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent.
That's a packed verse! Let's break it down.
Test: The means by which the presence, quality, or genuiness of anything is determined; a means of trial. The trial of the quality of something.
So, now our verse would read, "I know, my God, that you determine the presence of quality or genuiness of my heart by trials..." Have you had trials? I know the answer is "Yes" because we've all had trials. They can be simple things like trying to get yourself and 4 kids dressed and out the door in time. It can be a bigger trial like a car accident, natural disaster, fire, etc. It could also be a long term trial like overcoming debt or battling a medical illness. Have you ever thought that these trials could be tests?
Integrity: Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character.
Now we read, "I know, my God, that you determine the presence of quality or genuiness of my heart by trials and are pleased with my adherence to moral and ethical principles..." I believe the majority of people are "good" people...people with integrity. But, I know humans come with boundries or our comfort zones. Sometimes we fail to leave our comfort zone to do what we know is right. Have you ever seen a fight going on and just rushed by it, went around it, etc without doing anything? I have. Then I started to think, I could at least call security or the police to break it up because, maybe, one of the people in the fight didn't want to be in the fight...they need help and morally that is what I need to do. Or, you see someone drop their wallet...do you return it as is or take money out and return it or not return it at all? Let your daily decisions be morally and ethically right.
Honest: Upright and fair. Genuine or unadulterated
Finally it reads, "I know, my God, that you determine the presence of quality or genuiness of my heart by trials and are pleased with my adherence to moral and ethical principles. All these things have I given willingly and with upright and fair intent." My 5 year old believes the world revolves around him. If he wants to race his siblings, he must win or it's not fair! If he gets a regular size candy bar and CJ gets two of the bite size candy bars, it's not fair because CJ has two...it doesn't matter that in reality, Jamion has more. This is the reality of our lives. In today's society we are told "It's all about me!" and we should strive to meet our needs first and make sure we are happy. And above all, it must be fair to us! Well, what about others?
"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly with honest intent."
We will be tested...not physically, but our hearts for integrity. We should give our hearts to God willingly and openingly with the intent of God finding us with integrity.
"I have begun to set intentions at the beginning of each day before I do anything else. It's a way of checking in with God, with my heart, with my integrity and with my purpose. It keeps my intent honest. If God is going to be testing my heart, I may as well test regularly, too."
Will you be ready for your test? Will your heart contain integrity and will you give your intentions willingly for your test?
Sometimes I find it easier to break things down to get the full effect of what the verse is trying to tell me.
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