Holding on to your faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 1 Timothy 1:19

God has given human beings the gift of conscience, a sense of right and wrong. But the human conscience was exposed to damage when sin entered into the human experience when Adam and Eve chose to disobey the one commandment God had given them. Since that moment, sin has damaged the conscience of every human being.

I am never amazed when a child gives her/his opinion about life. I listen attentively. One day when I was feeling worse about the class and their negative behavior toward learning, I was taught something. This young man was the grandson of a well-known local bishop.

He said his parents make him go to church every Sunday and he can not see where it makes a difference. I told him that I agreed, it did not make a difference to some people. However, the preacher has been called upon to tell them anyway, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord ” Romans 6:23.

He went on to tell me that, what he has gotten out of all this church-going, all these years, is that people are basically evil? Since I had his mother’s number on speed dial for his behavior, I said, I am going to call your mother and tell her something good for a change. You have been listening!

When you first receive salvation through Jesus Christ, God places His Holy Spirit in you. Part of the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian life is to pinch you when you are about to say or do something that is not Godly.

I had not been myself lately. I let the negative media get to me. When I was awakened early one morning to pray, I was reminded that I need the Holy Spirit to come back into my life. He will not dwell where he is not wanted.

When we have the Holy Spirit playing that role in our lives, if we obey, we can safely allow our conscience to be our guide. Thank You Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-7

In the New Testament, the word Agape –is used 137 times as a verb and 116 times as a noun. It is therefore at least as important to be loving as it is to feel love. We were created to be social beings.

The Apostle Paul has just finished speaking about spiritual gifts – the foundation of the body of Christ. He was writing to the Corinthian church.  A church that was divided. There were rival groups fighting for attention and power while more serious issues were being ignored. Not unlike today in our churches.

If I speak in the tongues of men/women, and of angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres.

It’s important to notice this because the prior gifts – prophecy, wisdom, charity, for example – are the ones that get the most attention in the world. But Paul notes that if we don’t have love, the most basic of gifts, all the other gifts are meaningless. As explained by Chaplain Samuel Blair.

In marriage, we see the romantic side of love, the love of one for another. It should not be just a feeling or emotion, but it is something that one does.

Love is not cheap, it costs something. It often doesn’t come easily to us, because of that cost. Perhaps that’s why it can be hard sometimes to live this way and to lay our lives down sacrificially for others. It should not always be about Me.

If we spend any time listening or reading the news or what ever medium you use, we can see that our country is sick and ripe for healing. I once called a parent about her child cursing so much, and told her that, “he says that you curse all the time. She said, “I don’t care if I do curse, he knows that it is wrong.”

So, you see, it does not matter whether you blame it on the pandemic, the president, or for whatever you mention, you know that it is wrong. Let us make it clear, hiding behind a position or job will not give us a free get out of jail card. We are each responsible for our actions and our inactions.

Billy Graham said,” The great need in America is not for a new organization. Our need is not for more economic prosperity. Our great need is for a revival in which men and women will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways to the God of our fathers.” (Decision Magazine, 2015)

As you learn to talk to the Lord, you will discover the blessing of the Lord. Prayer will also result in God’s power to bring about change.  James said, “The prayer of a righteous man/woman is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).  We can not do it on our own power.

1&2 Chronicles is written to the Israelites, coming out of 70 years of captivity. It is written so they might realize their heirship, the promises made by God to and through the Patriarchs.

They may have been asking themselves, just as many are asking today, this morning, and years ago. “Has God forgotten us?” The answer to this question is that we have forgotten God. That question has already been answered. “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

This is what God said to them/us, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land.”

Though this scripture was written some time ago, it still applies to us today. History repeats itself if its present is not changed. Revival will never come from an organization. It will never come from the District of Columbia, where people we have chosen, and continue to do so, seeking a different approach.

If you expect to fulfill your dreams and achieve your life goals, it will require more than stamina, willpower, and inspiration; it will also require planning.

It is not possible to plan for every twist and turn that awaits you on the road to success, but it is possible to plan alternate routes and scenic diversions. A plan B or sometime C if you will.

The word “plan” appears 205 times throughout the books of the bible. I am going to share the ones that I cherish.

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Luke 14:28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he/she has enough to complete it?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 20:18 Plans are established by counsel, by wise guidance wage war.

Proverbs 19:2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses the way.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man/woman plans his/her way, but the Lord establishes his/her steps.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

Psalm 20:4 May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!

These have worked for me. If I were a betting man, I would say that they will do the same for you given the same circumstances.

According to Mary Elizabeth Dean, Ambition can be a good thing, but like anything, it has its downsides. It can help you achieve your goals and create the life you want to live, but you need to watch out for something called “blind ambition.”

When you set goals and then work to achieve them, its important to make sure your life is balanced. Work is essential, but you need to also make time for family, friends, and yourself.

When I started out in retail management, it was my first real job after graduating from high school, honorably discharged from the U. S. Air Force, and graduating from college. I wanted to be successful, and I really put it before me, family, and everything else.  

I really wanted to join the Air Force Reserves. It was only going to take one week end out of the month and two weeks during the Summer. When I discussed it with my regional manager, I was told that I needed to decide whether I wanted to be a part time soldier, or a full-time manager.  I relented and did not do it.

I got transferred to a new location where the store was brand new, and I was one of the assistant store managers. While we were opening this store my father-in -law died and I did not take time off to attend the funeral.

As a matter of fact, I did not go to a lot of things with my family. All the major holidays, I was at the store and my family was all alone. Many thought my wife was lying about being married and having a loving husband.

The next new store that I helped to open was even worse. My wife was ill and needed to go to the doctor. My manager told me that I need to get one of the assistants’ wives to take her. I agreed for a moment. When I came to my senses, I told him that it was my responsibility to take her, and that I could find another job. I was treated better afterwards.

Dean further states, there are many times when the desire to achieve may override the sense of right and wrong. “When you chase your dreams and focus on nothing but the goal, you miss experiences that make life worth living.”

The “least of these” is a phrase that originates from Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus speaks of those in need.

It refers to those in a variety of needy situations. It includes the hungry, thirsty, impoverished, sick, and imprisoned. In this context, He is speaking to those on His right, that is, the righteous. The needy are called Christ’s “brothers”; thus, the reference is to the righteous helping fellow disciples. He said that those who cared for such individuals were not merely serving other people. They were serving Him.

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.’”

In the same passage, the opposite is also noted. The narrative concludes with Jesus condemning those who saw believers in need and yet did not help. He says, “For I was hungry, and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’”

So, think about this the next time you see the man or woman on the corner, or on the side of the road begging. It is not up to you to decide what they are going to do with what you give. Those whose lives are marked by apathy toward the needy show they have not been transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ.

God has always shown a special concern for the poor and needy. It should come as no surprise that He expects His followers to do the same.  Sadly, you do not get an out of jail “free card” if you are an attorney, citizen, coach, judge, or politician. What is surprising about the “least of these” is that our service is ultimately not to the poor, but to Christ Himself.

I grew up watching cowboy movies and I still like to watch them because there is always something said that is catchy that you can use to prove a point. This comes to mind, “If You get two dogs to fighting, it is easy to steal their bone. Watch the news very carefully and see if you can pick out the plot. They get the 99% fighting with each other, and they continue to steal their bones. As a matter of fact, we aid and albeit.

Rebecca Brumm says that many factors play into each person’s individual reaction to change. While some issues, problems and opportunities may be predictable, personal responses will not be.

Some people have different ways of thinking about change. Some have difficulty handling the slightest change. They quickly grow accustomed to routines and feel most comfortable with it

Others may relish in changes and view them as an opportunity to grow. These people regard change to reignite with excitement and passion in their new work environment.

How much experience one has had in handling and managing change in business or in their personal life will have an affect as well.

Having practice and previous experience to fall back on could contribute to greater immunity for the changes at hand. Some will have different ways of handling the change.

Some will need to talk about it, others will prefer to suffer silently. Some will vacate others and become withdrawn, and others may desperately seek others around them for support.

In his book, Diffusion of Innovations, Everett M. Rogers studied the reasons for either adoption to a change) or resistance to it. It comes down to:(1) how people are made and (2) how they are influenced by others about change. 

In general, people are change resistant rather than change friendly. Through this study, and the resulting research, Rogers concluded that there are 5 ways people react to change. So, if you have been beating your head against the wall wondering why you have not seen any results, this might be the reason. Cheer up.

1. 2.5 percent of people dream up new ways of doing things. they are innovators.

2. 13.5 percent of people quickly respond to what they see as a good idea and adopt it. They are early adopters.

3. 34 percent of people are more deliberate in thinking through the innovation but, after consideration, will adapt it. They are the early majority.

4. 34 percent of people are skeptical of innovation but eventually respond after seeing the benefits. They are the late majority.

5. 16 percent of people will probably never respond to change. They are the laggards

Many of us are familiar with the label diehard. Someone who has not changed a bit since they were a child, and now they are eighty.

I never thought that I would agree with this statement. We live in a culture that considers itself smarter and savvier than any generation before us. Sadly, this often displays itself by a cultural absence for what many consider values or qualities that generations before them commonly agreed were sins, such as lust, envy, pride, and greed. Now I do.

Instead of loving people and using money, people often love money and use people. Wayne Gerard Trotman. God comes right out and tells us why He gives us more money than we need. It’s not so we can find more ways to spend it. It’s so we can give generously. Ecclesiastes 5:10 reads, “Whoever loves money will never have enough money.”

It has been estimated that 1% of the population owns more wealth than the 99% combined. Even in the pandemic where many have lost their jobs and livelihood, the 1% have gotten even richer. It has not been because capitalism really works but rather it has happened with the assistance of those who took an oath to look after the 99%.

People are often quick to emphasize that the Bible doesn’t say money is the root of all kinds of evil but that the LOVE of money is the root. In other words, we don’t have to have money to cherish or greed for it or have it control our lives. Still, it’s wise to be cautious when accumulating money that we don’t fall prey to the allure of riches.

One of the most serious warnings in Scripture regarding greed for wealth and material gain is found in 1Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

In 2018, the Chicago Cubs were playing the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs gave a signed baseball to a child after social media became outraged over the perceived wrongdoing of an adult fan, but the camera only captured part of the story.

Chicago’s first base coach tossed a foul ball to the child on the front row. The child, however, missed the ball and it rolled behind him. The video showed an adult snatch it up. It looked as if the ball was taken away from the child.

People on social media, including MLB-owned accounts, were not happy with this. The cubs wanted to make sure the child went home happy and delivered him a ball signed by infielder Javier Baez.

But in the photos the Cubs tweeted, the boy had two baseballs. It turns out, despite social media and earlier reports, the adult fan had already helped the boy get a baseball earlier in the game.

Chicago sports talk host David Kaplan spoke to the members of the Cub’s organization to get the full story. No doubt this fan never got to tell his story or be forgiven.

Too often, we think we have all the facts when we only have fragments. In our modern “got you” culture it is easy to condemn people without hearing the whole story.

However, Scripture warns us, “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness (Exodus 23:1).”