Consistency

We live in a world where trust is hard to come by.

We question everything, and rightfully so. Pick any organization, be it a company or a church or a political group, and we can give examples of broken trust. Pick any type of relationship, for example, friendships, marriages, teams, and it is easy to give examples of integrity issues.

A life of consistent truth speaks volumes to the world.

Take someone that stands for truth, integrity, transparency, in all matters, in all situations. Emotion does not override integrity. Desire does not overtake truth. Hidden agendas do not replace transparency. There is never a question about where this individual stands.

This person will be described as dependable, trustworthy, having high character. They would be described as someone to run to when the things are a bit rocky, when the seas are choppy. Who doesn’t want this description of themselves, their kids?

Easy to type, extremely hard to live.

If the apostle Paul was nothing else, he was consistent. He had one message, one belief, one driving force that he lived by. All else in his life lined up behind this dedication.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Paul consistently sought the approval of God, not man. This flipped the switch in his life. Every action, every decision, every thought, had the goal of seeking the approval of God. This singular desire guided Paul to a life of consistency.

No storm in life changed his passion. No new message from culture changed his belief. No person could sway him. Paul sought the approval of God.

What drove this life of consistency, this steadfast belief?

In Acts 9, Paul is approached by Jesus himself and is given a mission to take His message to the world. Paul retells this story over and over, for example, in Acts 26, in trial after trial, on his way to Rome and finally death. Paul wrote 10 letters to churches recorded in the Bible, again, telling the story of why he believed in Jesus, retelling when he was approached by Him.

Paul came face-to-face with a holy God, and this experience so changed his life that it over-rode everything else he would face. He knew without a shadow of doubt who he encountered that day. He knew that his mission in life had flipped. His mission in life was now what God wanted for his life. Paul now consistently wanted to be approved by God.

Approval by God was the key, the anchor for Paul’s life of consistency, and he desired this dedication for all those that he knew.

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Ephesians‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul implored the people to stay true to God, avoid being inconsistent in their faith, persuaded by new thinking or human cunning or deceit.

The words that Paul wrote in Ephesians are the words crying to us today. The example of Paul’s consistent life is a model for us. The world needs to see lives of consistency, people of truth and integrity, those that stand strong with their doctrine in the face of cunning and deceit.

How does one live a constantly true life?

It can’t be done alone, but only with a personal relationship with God. So, our role is to know what we believe. If you have been approached by a holy God, spend time with Him, know what He says in His Word.

After Paul comes face to face with Jesus in Acts 9, he says that he did not “consult with anyone,” but he went away to Arabia for three years. You get a picture of Paul seeking God, spending personal time with Him, not depending on others to educate him.

This is the key to a life of consistency. We have to regularly approach the throne of grace, spending time in His Word. We have to know what we believe. And, finally we have let Him guide and direct.

Only then can one live a life seeking approval of God, not man.

A life of consistency.

Your family needs it, your company needs it, your church needs it, the worlds needs it.

By the way, everyone has failed. God equals grace. Receive it.

Impact others. Live generously.

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