Exercising Integrity at the Moment of Decision

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

July 3, 2026

Exercising Integrity at the Moment of Decision

A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 29:23 NRSV

God helps those who help themselves! Most Christians know this witticism is neither included in the Bible’s Book of Proverbs, nor is it even consistent with biblical teaching. Jesus teaches us that “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” (Matthew 5:5). Saint Peter added his two cents by quoting Proverb 3:34 when he wrote, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor”” (1 Peter 5:5b-6).

In the NLT, there are more than sixty references to the word, pride, and by far most of them are negative. Perhaps the most fulfilled of all biblical teachings is Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” I am reminded of the story of the Old Master and his young disciple. The young disciple was seeking to eliminate anything in his life that might distract him from full and complete devotion to God. Finally, the day came when he stood before the Old Master and lifted to him his empty hands. The Old Master said to the young disciple, “Give me your empty hands also.”

As the followers of Jesus, we are called to be proactive builders for the Kingdom of God, not passive bystanders in life. To accomplish our mission, we want to learn how to balance our proactive Kingdom building life with the humility that is the foundation of our right-standing with God. There is such a balance between humiliation and honor in King Solomon’s proverb. It is this balance that provides for the meek to inherit the earth as God lifts in honor those who humble themselves under his mighty power.

My Takeaway: I believe each of us must find our own way of balancing our proactive Christian life while maintaining lowliness of spirit. I have found two axioms that help me in this task. First, I try to be ever mindful of exercising integrity at the moment of decision. Secondly, I apply a part of my wedding vows to Cheryl, when we exchanged rings, to my relationship with my Abba: “With all that I am and all that I have, I honor you.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Putting on Christ

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

July 2, 2026

Putting on Christ

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 

To become a Christian is to enter an altogether new identity, or as the Apostle Paul puts it, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). In the verse quoted above, Galatians 2:20, Paul reveals that ‘putting on Christ’ is a matter of making a conscious decision to ignore our natural instincts and choosing to live our life by trusting Jesus to show us a new way to live. Jesus modeled a life lived as a child of God, and as we are Christianoi, the people of Christ, he will empower us to do the same.

A good spiritual discipline is to pick one of the four Gospels and read it with the goal of discerning as many personality characteristics of Jesus as you can. After you have made your list, study it with the thought that Jesus wants you to embody those characteristics in your life; this is putting on Christ. A caveat: it is easier to identify the characteristics than it is to make them your own. This is because God wants to completely transform our lives, which means a complete reorientation of how we relate to God, ourselves and to other people. This is also why Paul used such hyperbole to describe how he ignored his flesh and trusted in Jesus instead: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. . . “

My Takeaway: Some of the characteristics I have noted in Jesus’ personality include an openness and acceptance of his feelings, simplicity of conversation, intimacy with his Abba, and humble obedience to his Abba’s will. Choosing to let God work these characteristics into our lives is choosing to take the road less traveled, and while we do have to reaffirm our choice, sometimes moment by moment, we want to remember that ultimately “God is working in (us), giving (us) the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). This truth inspired Paul to affirm, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Difficult and Left Untried

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

July 1, 2026

Difficult and Left Untried

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25:40 

Christians differ widely on how they interpret the doctrine of atonement, which is the theological theory of who gets saved, and how. It can be helpful to spend time processing through the various theories of atonement, but in the end the only thing that really matters is whether the atonement theory you subscribe to makes you one with Christ. (Atonement = At-one-ment) This thought is incorporated in the liturgy for Holy Communion when we pray, “Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.”

Our mission as the followers of Jesus is to become co-laborers with Christ to fulfill the prayer he taught us: “Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The brutality and oppression in the world can be overwhelming. It is so easy to become desensitized to human suffering. Can we really have an abiding hope to build for a world where the lion will lay down with the lamb, and where there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female, because we are all one in Christ Jesus? (Galatians 3:28)

Jesus models at-one-ment for us when the King replies to the people, “when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” In the parable, the King fully identified himself with his people. So also, the followers of Jesus, who are in Christ, fully identify with Jesus’ people. One with Christ, one with each other and one with all the world.

My Takeaway: It sounds so simple, but it can be so frightening, which is why so many Christians hold Jesus at arm’s length where it seems impossible to identify with his people. It’s all about control. Full surrender to Jesus takes us completely out of control of our lives. Perhaps this is why G. K. Chesterton noted, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Blessings at Arm’s Length

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

June 30, 2026

Spiritual Blessings at Arm’s Length

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”

Ephesians 1:3 

Every spiritual blessing means that what is true for Jesus is true for the disciples of Jesus. Jesus spoke to God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, with the very intimate term of endearment, Abba. We, the disciples of Jesus, also can call out to our Abba Father. Every spiritual blessing means that God’s loving embrace of you is not conditioned on your performance as a disciple. God made a covenant with the disciples of Jesus, and God is always completely faithful to His covenant. The disciples of Jesus do not drift in and out of a state of right-standing with God. The Apostle Paul goes on to write that God “chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:4-5). So, what are you doing with your spiritual blessings?

Some disciples of Jesus don’t know this truth and are still trying to earn God’s favor. Some disciples of Jesus have heard this truth, but it seems too good to be true for them. Some disciples have heard this truth and accepted it, but only in a superficial way. They have yet to experience this truth in a transformative way. Some disciples have begun to experience this truth, but there yet remains a reluctance to fully surrender to the one who stands at their door and knocks. They are not quite willing to hear his voice and open the door, even though they know his promise to come in and share a meal together as friends. (Revelation 3:20)

My Takeaway: Opening the door of your heart and mind to Jesus can be quite frightening because you know he will rearrange your life. Keeping the spiritual blessings at arm’s length seems safer. But think of all the meals you will miss.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

I Work at It

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

June 29, 2026

I Work at It

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

A man stopped on the way home from work for a few drinks with his buddies. As usual, a few turned into several. When he got home his young daughter, who was wearing all over her face whatever had been prepared for her supper, and had a rather large and odoriferous deposit in her diaper, rushed to jump into his arms. As he stepped backwards, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea, he muttered to his wife, “How do you love something that smells like this?” She calmly replied, “The same way I love a husband who comes home stinkin’ drunk and affectionate; I work at it.”

Someone said they heard this man share this incident at an AA meeting. I hope so. The story reminds me of the man who explained to his minister why he was filing for divorce, “I just lost my love for her.” The minister replied, “You may lose your screwdriver, but you don’t lose your love for someone. Love is a choice, a decision you make. Love is a verb; it is action, not emotion.” When you spend time pondering the full catalog of love’s virtues in 1 Corinthians 13, you realize this is the point St. Paul was making. Life gives us ample opportunity to be jealous, boastful, proud, rude and irritable. Love chooses to be patient and kind instead.

Love is not easy. Making the decision to love is just the first step; actually, loving someone in difficult circumstances is hard work. It has been my experience that taking the first step, making the decision to love, requires reaffirmation, sometimes daily.

My Takeaway: When I struggle to express love in difficult situations, I recall that 1 Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter, is a vivid description of how God loves us. Not only is God’s love for us patient and kind, but God also “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Then I claim the promise: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Run to Jesus

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 26, 2026

Run to Jesus

“He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

Isaiah 40:11b

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is on the eastern slope of Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The church takes its name from the Latin word "Gallicantu", meaning cock's-crow. In the courtyard of the church, overlooking the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives, and the Garden of Gethsemane, is a cluster of statues depicting Peter standing in front of a charcoal fire denying to a servant girl that he knew Jesus. The church is believed to have been built on the site of the home of the High Priest where Jesus was taken the night he was arrested, and where Peter three times denied Jesus. It makes sense that the cluster of statues would be there, but if I could build a statue commemorating Saint Peter, I would choose another scene.

I would want a statue depicting Peter jumping off his boat, half-naked, as he swam one hundred yards to Jesus on the beach. Or perhaps I could make a statue of Peter and John in a foot race to the empty tomb. I would also want to capture the scene where Mary Magdalene clung to Jesus after he called her name in front of the empty tomb, or of grief-stricken Mary and Martha rushing out of their home in Bethany to meet Jesus.

I believe the Apostle John is right, “perfect love expels all fear” (1 John 4:18). Mary and Martha experienced this. Not only were they grief-stricken, but they were also perplexed by Jesus’ delay in returning to Bethany on the news of their brother’s illness. Nevertheless, they ran to Jesus. So also, Peter. He was acutely aware of failing Jesus in the Garden, and later by denying Jesus. Even so, once aware Jesus was on the shore, he swam to Jesus as fast as he could.

My Takeaway: If there is any hesitancy holding you from running to Jesus, embrace Isaiah’s image of Jesus, and remember who is waiting for you: “He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Yes, and Amen

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

June 25, 2026

Yes, and Amen

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 1:20

My personal library is filled with commentaries on the Bible, daily devotional readings and scores of books on various and sundry Biblical themes. Although it is greatly reduced in the number of books since my retirement from the pastoral ministry, it still numbers in the hundreds. In addition, I have several dozen more religious books in my Amazon Kindle collection. The vast majority of first century pastors had few, if any, resources. Their congregations had no Bibles or sacred writing they could study. That being the case, how did they master the art of discipleship? They simply learned to say ‘Yes” (Amen) to their Abba.

Can it be that simple? I think so. I recall many years ago listening to an interview with Pastor Paul Yonggi Cho of South Korea. God was using him in a mighty way to build the Christian church in South Korea, and he was asked the secret of his success. He simply replied, “Pray and obey.” In my first visit to Cuba, we had been away from our base in Camaguey all day visiting out-lying mission churches. We returned after midnight on a Saturday night and noticed lights on in the church. We looked in the sanctuary and observed more than a dozen faithful, on their faces, praying for the Sunday worship service. In my second visit, we stayed with the pastor’s family in their home. His church sanctuary was in his living room. While we were in the kitchen having a meal several hours before a worship service, several in his congregation were in the next room praying for the service. Pray and obey.

My Takeaway: The Apostle Paul said that all the promises of God have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Our part, our discipleship, is simply a matter of learning to say ‘Amen” to God’s “Yes.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.