Faithful in small things

Now Debs and I were discussing the various versions of CSI on the telly the other day. Trying to think which was our favourite. After a bit of banter I told Debs that the lead character in CSI Miami Horaitio Caine is my favourite because he "wears his integrity like a blanket" as the psalm says. There are several examples where he goes beyond the call of duty to help a victim. Exhibiting a kindness that goes beyond his role as a member of the police. He almost invariably addresses hardened criminals as "my friend" even when pointing out to them that he has got them banged to rights. For an example of his kindness did you see the episode where the witness to a crime had learning difficulties? There was a kind of tender hearted compassion thing going on.

I know it is just fiction however story telling has been important to humans for thousands of years.

The conversation with Debs seems to have a link in my head to two other passages from scripture about integrity that have come to the forefront of my attention this week.

......they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 22:26 NIV

and

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.1 Chronicles 29:17 NIV

All this I suppose set me of thinking, where or how do we start to be like that man Horatio?

I think in the Christian it has to start with small things. Remember where Jesus says "Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones." Luke 16.10 GNB

The psalm really does say in the translation I use "wear your integrity like a blanket" which I believe means your integrity should protect you from the insidious temptations that come our way. That thought goes nicely with somewhere else in the psalms where it says "shake your hand lest it contain a bribe." So remember be faithful in the small things....

So we need a foundation to build on. Maybe that is enough to think on today? Except to add that daily repentance helps. It is better to do several little midcourse corrections rather than one jarring sharp turnaround.

Dear Lord, you search me and you know me. Help me to be faithful in small things and tender hearted, let my yes be yes and my no be no. Give me words that build up. Amen