This morning, we’re

continuing our new message series entitled, “Habits.” 

Through this message

series, we’re going to learn about how to do small things consistently, which

ultimately leads to a life of integrity.

Small habits lead to

big change!

Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the

upright guides them,

    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their

duplicity.

Godly integrity does

not make life fair as we often understand it. 

It does, however, guide us onto God’s path for our lives. 

Consistently doing

right in the little things will lead us to naturally do what is right when

faced with big things.  Living a thorough

life of integrity leads to God’s blessings and the abundance and fullness of

life.

This morning, we’re

going to begin learning from a season in David’s life that I’m sure we can all

well relate to.  David shared a level of

details about his life that simply isn’t found about most individuals found in

the scriptures. 

We learn not only of

the historical events of his life; his challenges and his achievements, but

also of his raw emotions throughout them. 

These are primarily found in the Psalms. 

His frustrations, joys, disappointments, and successes are recorded for

us to learn from centuries after his passing.

Although the Bible

is sure to record some of David’s mistakes and the subsequent consequences of

them, overall, he lived a life that reveals a great deal of integrity.

We’re beginning this

morning in the midst of his life’s account. 

David was long ago anointed by the prophet Samuel, who has since passed

on, to be the second king of the nation of Israel. 

The current king,

Saul, is quite jealous of David and the great success that he is having in his

service in the army of Israel.  Saul was

afraid of David because the Lord had left him, but was strongly with David.  All of Israel and Judah loved David. 

Integrity leads to

favor with both God and man as revealed in the life of David.  He loved God and God’s people and lived

wholeheartedly for them.

We begin in 1 Samuel

20 shortly after this blessed season to find David now running for his life

from the same king that he faithfully served. 

Saul is determined to kill David and begins chasing him all over in order

to do so.  David asked Jonathan, Saul’s

son and David’s best friend:

1 Samuel 20:1

…“What have I done?

What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill

me?”

Perhaps you’ve found

yourself in such a position.  Although

you’ve done nothing wrong, people are still opposed to you. 

Perhaps you’ve find

yourself asking that same question that David asked over and over again,

“What have I done?” 

You may have done

something to offend them, but you also may not have.  In this scenario, David really had done

nothing wrong.  Saul just couldn’t handle

seeing God’s favor depart from his life and grow so powerfully in David’s life.

Perhaps others

aren’t throwing javelins at your or chasing you throughout the country with an

army, but it feels that way. 

Honestly, I often

think that this style of obvious assault might be easier to tolerate than how

people usually come against us in our culture. 

At least there is no question in their motives and their intent that way.  Hey, bring on the torches and pitchforks

again!  Who needs secretive and indirect

social media influences?

Unfortunately, a

life lived in integrity is one that sometimes catches attention in a bad

way. 

When the light of

Christ in us gets too close to someone who enjoys living in the darkness and

shadows, it can result either in their salvation or our crucifixion. (and in

that, I mean the crucifixion of our flesh toward their reaction!)

Proverbs 29:10

The bloodthirsty

hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

People may not be

coming at you to physically kill you, but they may equally desire to destroy

you.  Your life may not end, but it may

seem easier if only to bear that