The Real Deal
Key Thought | True godliness isn’t fake or forced. It’s formed through integrity, reverence, and a life anchored in the Word that bears lasting fruit.
“Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvellous, intoxicating.” — Simone Weil
I read this quote recently, and it spoke so deeply to me. In our current culture, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that godliness isn’t attractive; but the truth is, our world is fascinated by authentic godliness. What it’s tired of is the fake kind. The most attractive thing on the planet is people who are whole.
I’ve been ruminating on a few verses from Titus over and over again lately:
“Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” — Titus 2:6–8, 11–15 (NKJV)
I love passages that list what it means to be the real deal, to be authentic in our faith and to see the fruit that naturally flows from that kind of life.
From the start, Paul is speaking to another young man in the faith and says: “In doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech…”
Think about that short list for a moment with me:
In doctrine showing integrity | It means we live out what we say. Our beliefs reach into our actions. Integrity is a powerful word. It represents the full connection of our heart, mind, and actions. We’ll never be perfect, but when those areas align, it’s powerful.
Reverence | We don’t hear this word often, but it’s so important. Reverence reminds us that He is God and that He conforms to no one, but we conform to Him. It’s the fuel that drives our relationships. Our love and reverence for God should spill into our words toward others made in His image. It doesn’t mean we avoid truth; it means our words come under His Lordship, not our irreverent opinions.
Incorruptibility | The only things that are truly incorruptible are the Word of God and the Spirit of God. That’s all that is good in me. Everything else, when fed, produces sin and corruption. The more I engage the Spirit of God through His Word, the more those incorruptible things become the driving force of my life.
Sound speech | This is the one the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about most lately. My frustrations with people and situations have seeped into my words. The issue isn’t honesty. It’s where that honesty is shared. Instead of processing it with Jesus, I’ve sometimes processed it with people first. You can always tell when someone is connected to the Spirit of God and the Word of God; their words sound different. They carry restraint and grace.
Take time today to saturate yourself in the Word and let it take root deep in your heart. I promise and, more importantly, Scripture promises that it will produce fruit, and that fruit will remain.
What passages are you ruminating on in this season?
Prayer | Lord, help me to live a life of integrity, reverence, and truth. Purify my heart so that my words, thoughts, and actions align with Your Spirit. Teach me to be authentic in my walk with You and to reflect Your character in every relationship and conversation. May Your Word take root in me and produce fruit that endures. Amen.
Journal | Where do I struggle most to live out integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, or sound speech? What’s one practical way I can let the Holy Spirit reshape that area of my life this week?
“Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvellous, intoxicating.” — Simone Weil
I read this quote recently, and it spoke so deeply to me. In our current culture, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that godliness isn’t attractive; but the truth is, our world is fascinated by authentic godliness. What it’s tired of is the fake kind. The most attractive thing on the planet is people who are whole.
I’ve been ruminating on a few verses from Titus over and over again lately:
“Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” — Titus 2:6–8, 11–15 (NKJV)
I love passages that list what it means to be the real deal, to be authentic in our faith and to see the fruit that naturally flows from that kind of life.
From the start, Paul is speaking to another young man in the faith and says: “In doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech…”
Think about that short list for a moment with me:
In doctrine showing integrity | It means we live out what we say. Our beliefs reach into our actions. Integrity is a powerful word. It represents the full connection of our heart, mind, and actions. We’ll never be perfect, but when those areas align, it’s powerful.
Reverence | We don’t hear this word often, but it’s so important. Reverence reminds us that He is God and that He conforms to no one, but we conform to Him. It’s the fuel that drives our relationships. Our love and reverence for God should spill into our words toward others made in His image. It doesn’t mean we avoid truth; it means our words come under His Lordship, not our irreverent opinions.
Incorruptibility | The only things that are truly incorruptible are the Word of God and the Spirit of God. That’s all that is good in me. Everything else, when fed, produces sin and corruption. The more I engage the Spirit of God through His Word, the more those incorruptible things become the driving force of my life.
Sound speech | This is the one the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about most lately. My frustrations with people and situations have seeped into my words. The issue isn’t honesty. It’s where that honesty is shared. Instead of processing it with Jesus, I’ve sometimes processed it with people first. You can always tell when someone is connected to the Spirit of God and the Word of God; their words sound different. They carry restraint and grace.
Take time today to saturate yourself in the Word and let it take root deep in your heart. I promise and, more importantly, Scripture promises that it will produce fruit, and that fruit will remain.
What passages are you ruminating on in this season?
Prayer | Lord, help me to live a life of integrity, reverence, and truth. Purify my heart so that my words, thoughts, and actions align with Your Spirit. Teach me to be authentic in my walk with You and to reflect Your character in every relationship and conversation. May Your Word take root in me and produce fruit that endures. Amen.
Journal | Where do I struggle most to live out integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, or sound speech? What’s one practical way I can let the Holy Spirit reshape that area of my life this week?
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
No Comments