Teaching Values: Walk the Walk - Part 1

Values are learned from significant others like parents, relatives, and friends. In the textbook Psychiatry and Ethics, the author relates how self-scrutiny and self-examination along with honesty and sincerity were the wellsprings for helping him understand his behavior and beliefs. Values define your character and the rules you live by each day.

Values reside in your conscience and determine the multitude of choices you have to make wherever you are. If a cashier at a store mistakenly failed to charge you enough for your purchase, what would you do? Your first impulse might be to rejoice and say nothing. Would honestly win the battle?

Joseph Parker said, "Following the Golden Rule would reconcile business and labor, all political disputes and turbulence, all selfishness and greed." It's hard to believe this, even harder to practice. Jesus said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Would you in good faith try this for just one day? God will extend you a blessing that will make a difference.  

Listening to Your Inner Voice - Part 3

Good management systems prevent the world from disintegrating into chaos. Each of us has an internal management system that directs our thoughts and actions. One of the main features of this internal management system is our conscience. Think of the conscience as an office manager who makes sure everything stays on track.

The conscience plays a major role in determining our success or failure, so  we are born with the potential for conscience to develop in conjunction with what we're exposed to in our environment. Adam and Eve experienced a serious violation of conscience by crossing the boundary line of God's instructions. They felt fear, shame, and guilt.

The development of conscience begins early in childhood. God's word instructs parents to bring up children in accordance with what is good and godly and they will keep it as a guide for life. We're created in God's image and designed to act, think, and believe as he does. God transforms your conscience as you choose to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord.