Strong Spiritual Resolve
By Rev. Arnel Tan

“I will be careful to live a blameless life - I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.”
- Psalm 101:2 NLT

What we read here is not a statement of arrogance but an honest statement of a strong spiritual resolve to make things right. Knowing that the author of this is David we have a lot of eye brows raising and mouth spewing toxic words. Obviously we see a crisis of credibility, but what we need to see here is an open door for authenticity. David started with where integrity should begin- in the home. Honestly, it is so courageous of David to open up this issue of integrity in the home. His failure in this area precedes his faith. That’s why he opens up his strong resolve not to stay a failure.

The home is really a good place to become truly authentic and display credibility. It is also in the context of being at home where we are raw and free from the cosmetics and semantics religion. The failure of the past and the false expectation for the future is no longer the issue for David. What is clear to him is the opportunity that God grants today, and the chance to break free from a tainted lifestyle. While it is true that many things that we have done are final in a sense that we cannot undo them, we still have the chance to redeem the remaining moments before our time ends.

To those who are beginning in a clean slate take this resolve without delay. The application of living a blameless life in the home is not only an urgent matter it is also a matter of personal conviction. Meaning there should be no argument or rationalization here. This matter calls for an real brokenness of the heart that will result to a strong resolve to depend on God. Failure is sure when we trust our strength. David calls for people to hold him accountable if he fails to do this. What is remarkable here is that the principle and practice of godliness is non negotiable. It remains the standard despite many of our heroes and mentors failed.

With that attitude of doing what pleases God let us not blush to make strong resolve to do things better. The grace of God is our sufficient strength and His glory is our consuming passion. We must be aware of the subtle twist that can turn this resolve less it becomes a response to guilt instead of our obedience to God. This resolve is no longer driven by the result; the focus is the glory of God! Making this resolve is a pride shattering experience and a grace flourishing encounter with God!