God wants us to keep a relationship with him because we were originally part of him. Genesis 2: 7 says God breathed into his nostrils (Adam) the breath of life; and the man became a living being. Jesus also said in John 15: 5, I am the vine, and you are the branches. The relationship is till eternity for Jesus said in Matthew 28: 20, I am with you always, to the end of the age. It is not optional to break the relationship but to maintain it with the owner of our breath.
David in Psalms 25: 4, 5, 21 showed how to maintain a worthy relationship with God which were knowing God’s ways and paths; knowing God’s truth; acknowledging God’s salvation; and seeking to preserve one’s integrity and uprightness in God. . We continue with how we can maintain a relationship with Christ Jesus according to David’s prayer in Psalms 25.
Preserving integrity and uprightness
David’s closing prayer in Psalms 25: 21 was, may integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Integrity and uprightness cannot be preserved unless we first have Christ Jesus. To preserve means keeping and guarding something precious. Integrity means honesty and honour whilst uprightness means decency, morality, and worthiness. David desired to honour God with the substance of his life. What we give to God is not as important as our substance, our hearts in purity.
David was ready and willing to honour God with his conscience to show that he had regretted and repented from his past deeds of sins. Ecclesiastes 7: 20 says surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning. In effect, only God who has promised to redeem us through Christ Jesus can preserve our relationship with him through integrity and uprightness by his grace.
The one who is able to preserve us said of himself in Isaiah 45: 21, there is no other God and a Saviour, there is no one besides me. It is the truth that only God working through Christ Jesus as the ordained Saviour can and will preserve us in integrity and uprightness till the final day. Paul wrote in Romans 3: 10, there is no one who is righteous, not even one. We must not be deceived but must hear God.
Taking admonishing and caution
Paul admonished us in Romans 12: 9; Philippians 3: 16; 1 Thessalonians 5: 21, that hold fast to what is good or we have attained. Jesus also said in Revelation 2: 25, hold fast to what you have until I come. He said also in Revelation 3: 11, I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The reward of our relationship will be based on how we have preserved our integrity and uprightness by grace.
Jesus said in Revelation 22: 12, “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9: 24 run in such a way that you may win it (the price). God has given each and every mortal integrity and capacity for uprightness in order to have a relationship with him. Are they preserved in the blood of Christ Jesus?
Jesus is coming soon to seal every relationship we have with him. Worthy relationships will be rewarded and bad relationships will be exposed and rejected for damnation in eternity. How will we stand at his judgment? Will we be friends or foes? Our relationship must be personal and not through inheritance. We will be judged as individuals and not as a group. Each will be accountable for his relationship.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for reminding us that our eternity rests on our relationship with you. Preserve us in integrity and uprightness through your blood. Make us your friends through obedience to your instructions and your will for our lives. Always remind us of our relationship with you so we may not miss our providential way back to you in eternity. Continue to cleanse us with your blood and save our perishing souls today in your holy name and by your eternal grace, Amen!!
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