7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity[a] in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8 CSB)

We have established that we live in a fallen world. It is no longer that we have to really look very hard to see just how broken we are. Lies are taken for the truth and truth for lies. It is easily to say with confidence we are living in a very bleak period.

We seem to have less and less power over what is happening as well. This leads many to feel helpless and alone.

But it is just how we respond and react to these times that shows what we are made of and who we serve. When we live a life that is marked by integrity and shows dignity to those around us we are making a stand for what, and who is right.

It may be hard to live a life today that is beyond reproach. Furthermore, our lives are now lived out in front of a camera for all to see. Thus, maintaining a strong integrity helps us to live beyond reproach. But we must avoid the inherent danger in thinking of our lives this way and live humbly accepting that we too are broken.

When we do this we gain power over the one element in life that can tarnish integrity, erode dignity and negate a life beyond reproach. Pride. We must be an example.