From Kevin Funk…

One rule in our community group that we try to communicate to each other is that when we have discussion, we aren’t going to try to act like Bible scholars. As we grow in our walk with Jesus, we pick up different terms or ideas along the road. Some stick, some don’t. I feel like I still come across Bible terms that I should know but I don’t. Do you ever feel like you have a grasp on God and then He shows you how little you really know?

About 2 months ago a good friend of mine asked me if I knew what it means to live “above reproach”. Quickly I answered “yep”! It was almost immediately when my answer didn’t sit well with me. I mean I heard of it before and I thought that I knew but something told me I wasn’t really familiar with the term. Then it was like he knew I wasn’t sure so he began to explain to me in a loving way what it is. (not like……you don’t know!?!? Wow I can’t believe it)

Let’s take a look at Psalm 101…1 I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. 2 I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me?  I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. 3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.  4 I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.  5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. 6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. 7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence. 8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip. (Psalms 101:1-8 NLT)

David’s heart is to walk a life of integrity and to run from any type of sin that may take his eyes off of God. The standards of this world in which we should live are always changing and will forever be blurry. That’s because those standards are man made.  God however has a set of standards that are meant to be followed and honored as best we can. David knew that living a blameless life would need God’s help.

During the past couple of months I have been contemplating on what it means to live a life above reproach. Just being aware of the environment I’m in or the ones I surround myself with is key.  Have you ever been at a friend’s or coworker’s house, or even your spouse and while you’re in the midst of a conversation they mumble a cuss word under their breath or something slightly inappropriate while the kids are within an earshot of what’s being said? Then they tell you they can’t be too loud because they don’t want little Johnny or Susie to repeat what was said or they are too young to hear such words.

It got me thinking that if our kids are to young to hear certain words, why do we say them? If we are children of God, and God is our Father, let’s do some role playing. If our Heavenly Father sets a standard to live by, why do we think we can say whatever we want when our kids are not around? God knows our thoughts and words even before we speak them.  Colossians 3:8 says now is the time to get rid of dirty language (NLT)

Living above reproach means living a life worthy of our God.  It means to be constantly checking ourselves in the mirror and searching our hearts for anything offensive to our Holy God. This topic could rabbit trail into a thousand directions but for now I wanted to focus on the words and topics we as believers let roll off our lips. Does it honor and bring glory to God? Would I say this in front of my Heavenly Father? By staying in tune with God and His standard, we can begin to understand what we can do or change to live a life of “above reproach”.