Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Psalm 15:2
What does it look like to live a blameless and an upright life? I’ve had so many great examples in my life. Have you been to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)? I had the privilege of being in leadership and the teaching leaders were wonderful. They spoke truth to sincere hearts. I ‘ve been in Freedom In Christ ministry since 1995. The leadership in this group taught those of us serving about freedom in Christ certainly speaking the truth. When I taught Sunday school, as a teacher we’re trained to speak the truth.
Beloved, characteristic twenty-eight of a born-again believer is one is upright. Upright’s defined as (of a person or their behavior) strictly honorable or honest. Synonyms are honest, honorable, upstanding, respectable, high-minded, law-abiding, right-minded, worthy, moral, ethical, righteous, decent, scrupulous, conscientious, noble, virtuous, and good.
Looking at her in the church, the priest thought she’s drunk. We pick up the story in 1 Samuel 1: 12-14.
As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she’s drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
Who was this woman who would take her burden to the Lord? Her name is Hannah. She’s barren and the Bible said the Lord had closed her womb. She’s being bullied by the other wife, life was not good for Hannah. But Hannah had the love of her husband and when she shares with the priest her problem, she leaves her problem with the Lord. Beloved, she was upright, she hadn’t been drinking. This year would be different, she would promise the Lord if he allowed her to have a child she would dedicate him to the Lord. Let’s read her testimony in her own words.
“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 1 Samuel 1:15-18
Her face was no longer downcast, early the next morning she and her husband worshipped the Lord. She becomes pregnant and when the child can be weaned she took him to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord and there Samuel’s raised. Hannah’s upright and she spoke the truth and followed through on her promise to the Lord.
Beloved, characteristic number twenty-eight of a born-again believer is one is upright.
I discovered today that one of the women that I was in ministry with passed away. We taught three-year-olds. We were together on Wednesday nights for Panda Bears. Miss Pam was all about the children having fun yet learning about Jesus. One of the craziest things we did was let the children decorate cookies. The first year was a learning year and we didn’t realize there would be as much frosting on us and how much would be eaten. So the second year, each child had their own stations and their own frosting, nothing’s shared. My heart hurts but I know she is with Jesus so how can I complain. We need to be childlike in the truth department. They tell it like it is.
Father God, thank you for all the wonderful people I have had in my life that have led blameless, upright lives and have modeled your love. Lord for the Barbara Brown’s that would speak the truth in BSF to the leadership that I learned from in Freedom in Christ. Lord, let us be women who speak the truth in love. Lord, Hannah took her problems to you, let us take our problem to you and be willing to let go and let God handle them. In Jesus name. Amen.
What do you need to do to add the characteristic upright to your life?
This post is part of a 31 day series on the Characteristics of a Believer. I am so glad that you are here. To read all of the posts in this series, click here.
