Choose God's Way: Resist Evil - Part 3

It’s been said that life is a harsh teacher, but its lessons endure for a lifetime. Numbers 22 tells us that an angel of God told Balaam he was corrupt and had sinned against God. Revelation 2:14 reveals that Balaam informed Balak, the king of Moab, how to dupe the young men of Israel. The trap consisted of invitations to commit sexual sins and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

This defined a stumbling block with serious consequences. However, God will rescue us when we fall short of his glory provided we honestly repent and turn from unrighteousness. Balaam consistently chose unrighteousness instead of God’s way. God created him with the freedom to choose, as he has done for us.

A lesson to learn from Balaam is that we’re capable of misusing the gifts and talents God entrusts into our care. This is preventable by keeping centered on who we are in Christ Jesus so that when we are tempted, we choose to resist. God takes note of our choice and rewards us with integrity and a clear conscience.  

The Conscience As an Alert System - Part 3

Many homeless people survive by begging, borrowing, or stealing enough money to satisfy a daily appetite for food and whatever addictions he or she must support. Addictions exist across all classes of society. Statistics disclose that  numerous stay-at-home wives and mothers secretly survive the day by devouring alcohol or non-prescription drugs.

The appetite for alcohol is astounding, and if it evolves into an addiction, it weakens the conscience and integrity while interfering with sound judgment.  Listen to Isaiah 56:12. "Come, let us get wine. Let's drink our fill. And tomorrow will be like today, even better."  This verse reveals how alcohol becomes an obstacle to sound judgment choices.

Escaping responsibilities by numbing the brain works only for a while. Your conscience and integrity cry out for change and healthy choices, such as dependency on God's word and the wisdom of Christ for guidance and strength to manage daily living. Christ Jesus is knocking on your door and waiting for an invitation to come in. Choose Christ Jesus now.  

Listening to Your Inner Voice - Part 1

Every modern civilization to some extent sanctions self-indulgence. In our society self-indulgence is endorsed in every way imaginable. But is it wrong to indulge yourself since most people participate? Because of long term negative consequences, I would suggest it is wrong.

I read about a man who early in his career decided to give away half of his earnings to church groups and organizations whose mission was to improve the lives of less fortunate people. What do you think would happen if you chose to follow his example? Is it possible even to give serious consideration to this idea?

Do you believe the words of Jesus from Luke 6:38? "Give to others and God will give to you a generous helping, poured into your hands - all you can hold." Self-indulgence and self-absorption eat away at your conscience and integrity. Generosity rebuilds the conscience and strengthens integrity when it's expressed with thanksgiving and love. Such a choice is fostered by the love of Christ Jesus for us. 

The Voice of Conscience: Turn It Back On - Part 3

Most people struggle to stay in line with the dictates of their conscience. We know that impulsive decisions often indicate we're out of compliance with good judgment and are vulnerable to damaging our integrity. Still we find it difficult to override the tendency to self-indulge, even though self-indulgence ultimately leads to negative consequences.

Our conscience attempts to remind us that self-indulgence is not suitable for good health. Succumbing to self-indulgence causes our integrity to suffer. We become manipulative and controlling in an effort to fulfill our desires, but still we feel empty and like Ezekiel 37 describes as "a dessert full of dry bones, with no life, direction, or purpose."

Yet what God can do with faith the size of a mustard seed has no bounds! God told Ezekiel to say to those dry bones, "Dry bones, hear the voice of the Lord: 'I will make breath enter you and you will come to life.'" Permit God's power  to penetrate your life so your conscience and integrity can be restored and healed. This is a wise choice.  

The Voice of Conscience: Turn It Back On - Part 1

Every person is subject to self-indulgence at some level. Self-indulgence can range from food to video games and is not reserved for what money can buy. Anything taken to excess is an indulgence and tends to cross all socioeconomic lines. Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI of France, was known as the queen of self-indulgence.

During the French revolution when poor people were begging for food, the queen's insensitive response was, "Let them eat cake." She was so obsessed with food, nothing satisfied her taste and cravings. She was so captivated with self-indulgence that her conscience and integrity disintegrated.

Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16, reveals the startling, sad truth that self-indulgence blinds us to compassion and the realistic needs of others. Perhaps God is speaking to you and prompting you to make important changes before it's too late to turn things around. Ask Christ Jesus to help you do that right now.  

Conscience, Your Inner Voice: To Heed or Not To Heed? - Part 2

The inner voice of conscience is alive and alert, even when a person's wants, desires, and passions speak so loudly that it can no longer be heard. To live with a clear conscience is to harmonize your integrity with your thought patterns and behavior. Listen to the Apostle Paul's words from Acts 24:16 regarding his conscience. "I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man."

The conscience is an alarm system that warns of imminent danger. The voice of conscience is persistent since its mission is to bring us to confession and repentance for violations and sinful choices. Failure to heed your conscience may seem OK initially, but disregarding this voice can be devastating.

God will restore and renew a damaged integrity and conscience so you can experience peace with him and fellowship with Christ Jesus as well as peace with those who love you. Choosing the path of positive change is not always easy, but the Holy Spirit makes a way to do so when you are willing to ask for help. Would you give this a chance to work for you?  

Conscience, Your Inner Voice: To Heed or Not To Heed? - Part 1

How much power and control do you allow your conscience to have in directing and guiding your thoughts and actions? Conscience is defined as an alarm system or inner voice whose purpose is to alert us against committing behaviors that violate our moral, social, and spiritual values. Your conscience is most vulnerable when you stubbornly refuse to listen to its voice.

The conscience works in partnership with your integrity to guide you toward what is good and pleasing to God. Permit Christ Jesus to empower and strengthen your conscience as a guard against temptation that confronts each person. You will then be dissuaded from making bad decisions capable of taking you to the brink of unhappiness or disaster.

Christ Jesus enlightens the conscience to help you make choices that save your integrity from damage. If your choices have acutely injured your integrity and conscience, prayer and patience are required so that forgiveness and cleansing are free to heal you. Ask Christ Jesus to give you to strength to set boundaries on choices that violate your conscience.