Integrity and Shalom

Integrity and shalom have more in common than I ever considered before.

Integrity is about being whole and complete. It shares the same root with the word integer, a whole number. It is not a fraction, but complete on its own. To be a person of integrity also means to be the same person in every situation, not a different kind of person at home than we are from work, school, or play.

We are not born whole and complete. 

Shalom: our English word peace is not sufficient to explain what it really means. It is more profoundly about being whole, with nothing broken or missing. 

Since the Fall of the human Race in the garden, we all begin with a shortage of Shalom.

There is a soundness about these two words, integrity and shalom. But there is also an elusiveness to them.

There is so much that is broken in our world. We sense it in our bodies, souls, minds and spirits. The result is our, “I can’t put my finger on it,” consciousness of brokenness with our lack, and need.

If we do not seek help from the Lord first, these tend to lead us to self-protection. That in turn leads to more brokenness with less integrity and shalom.

So how do we heal the brokenness? We don’t. But there is hope.

Holiness is something we do not naturally possess! Only our Lord is truly perfect, which is what holy means. 

This is the source of our problem. How can we be perfect or whole in a broken world?

The literal good news is that Jesus has bridged that gap for us. We only need to accept His gift. 1 Peter 2explains our situation and options well. I suggest reading the whole chapter, but esp. vv1, 4-5, 9-10, 24-25.

Then there is Rest. In the Biblical sense, true rest requires radical letting go of control, allowing God to care for and lead us. I believe this is the key to all that is offered to us. We surrender and then the Lord is free to rescue and provide.

3 You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26

We find our wholeness, our integrity and shalom, through our profound rest in God’s holiness. These are given freely, and credited to us through Jesus, the perfect provision for our brokenness.

Abba, I surrender! Thank you for seeing me as holy because you sent Jesus. As I rest in the majesty of your love and care, I pray my life draws closer to consistent integrity and shalom. To You be the glory. Amen