7月2日
标 题：在纯正中被扶持
经 节：你因我纯正就扶持我，使我永远站在你的面前。（诗篇41:12）
约瑟是个义人，他在自己的生活圈中以圣洁成名。然而，闲言闲语传得好快，他的未婚妻马利亚怀孕了。这对许多人来说，可是丑名远播的最糟窘境。约瑟可能会由其他人口中，听到一些闲话，被其他人排斥。但他是个正直的人，了解神知道他与马利亚的关系是清白的。
有时候，神会是你公义行为惟一的见证人。有时候，只有神了解你的动机。有时候，你照着神的指示做，反而被别人嘲弄。在这种时候，你能做的只是持守正直，相信神一直在看顾你。神最喜爱那些行为正直的人，他们不管其他人的批评，仍按着他们所知的持守正直。
人们是否知道真相，不是最重要的事；你是否在神面前持守纯正，才是最重要的。当似乎没有人了解你为何如此行，或有人质疑你是否做了所有该做的事时，你的信心不是创建在被人接纳的希望，乃是知道神的眼睛看顾全地。这种信心必帮助你持守下去。
Integrity Upheld
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set
me before Your face forever. (Psalms 41:12)
Joseph was a righteous man who had cultivated a
reputation for godliness in his community. Then word spread across the
community that Mary, the woman to whom he was engaged, was expecting a child.
There would be many who would assume the worst of this apparently scandalous
situation. Joseph probably experienced gossip from some, ostracism from others.
Yet he was a man of integrity, aware that God knew the truth of his
relationship with Mary.
At times, God will be the only witness to your
righteous behavior. Sometimes God is the only one who will understand your
motives. Sometimes you will do all you know God has asked you to do, only to
face ridicule from others. At such times all you can do is maintain your
integrity, trusting that God always keeps His eyes on you. God looks favorably
upon those who walk with integrity, doing what they know is right, regardless
of how others perceive their actions.
The most important thing is not that people know
the truth. The most important thing is that you are a person of integrity
before God. When no one seems to understand why you have done something or when
others question whether you have done all you should have done, your confidence
should not be in the hope of vindication in the eyes of others. It should be in
the knowledge that God keeps you in His sight. If you have this confidence, it
will be enough to sustain you.
