The Power of One

It’s remarkable what the power one person’s action can cause. One person’s sin brought death and judgment to all, just as one person’s death brought life back to all. Each time it was the actions of one solitary person. When Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, he brought sin and death on all of humanity. Just as the gracious gift of Jesus Christ’s death brought life to all of us. Another example was when David ordered a census of all men of a certain age, against God’s command; his actions brought judgment to Israel, three days of a plague, which killed thousands. The power of David, as one small boy, defeated the giant. Another example; God told Lot, if he could find just one man who was righteous he would spare Sodom and Gomorrah, also the power of one.

So much of the time Christians feel helpless, out maneuvered, and overwhelmed by the secular society that surrounds us. We ask ourselves what we can really do, as one person, to change things. According to the Bible, one person’s actions can make a tremendous difference in God’s eyes as well as here on earth.

For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) The way we as Christians conduct ourselves on a daily basis and stand up for one’s beliefs should make others take notice. We have the opportunity to change their views if one verbalizes, in a loving way, our beliefs. Let them know why one believes God’s word and share one’s testimony with them. Perhaps they have never heard his message; you could be their ticket to salvation.

Sometimes we mistakenly believe by living in the United States, everyone knows God’s message and his message saved everyone already. Unfortunately that is not the case, the present generations leave God out of their lives. Many assume that if schools ignored God’s message, it is not relevant. Colleges purposely challenge their beliefs. Many youths are led astray without the knowledge of the Bible. Satan knows human weakness and tempts everyone so they will follow him. He lures them with idols, pleasures of the flesh and material wealth.

One voice, one vote, one life, can make a tremendous difference! We as Christians must defend one’s beliefs and the right to religious freedom. We should take a stand against any politician who votes down one’s right to live by one’s conscience. It is our responsibility to act as watchmen on the wall, to warn others and refuse to sin against God and his commandments. It may become necessary to disobey man’s unjust law instead of violating God’s law. In the guise of tolerance, they are stealing one’s religious freedoms. 

Most importantly, live and teach God’s word so that it will carry on through many more generations. Don’t let the language of God’s love become lost and forgotten. The power of one can accomplish all, one day at a time, one person at a time and one ballot at a time. Join me in making a difference! 

Dealing With Bullies

It seems the world is full of bullies, whether in a school setting or at work. It is becoming prevalent when someone does not see things from your perspective. Recently we witnessed businesses bullied, the culture today is self-centered and does not tolerate anyone who believes differently than themselves. The Chik-Fil-a incident is an example of this kind of discrimination. Anyone can become a target for bullies.

I feel apathy for the ones whom get bullied relentlessly. The ones who do not fit in, who keep trying to appear normal every day, but whom are nursing a broken spirit. The empty soul who longs to be loved and cared for, this is the person one should reach out to as believers, knowing they are unique in God’s eyes. It is imperative that one realize God picked us, over everyone else. That is what the bully has seen; they know you hold God’s spirit and can not tolerate it. Do not be amazed, brothers if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13) 

I know the agony of dissention and the anguish of ostracism; I found comfort in the Bible. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains in you, and will be with you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. ( John 14:16-21) And he has revealed himself to those of us who seek him. He will reveal himself to anyone who does.

Things do not change as we grow older. There is always someone who will delight in upsetting us or enjoys making us feel badly about ourselves. It is most difficult when teenagers have to deal with malicious, hurtful teenagers on a daily basis. It can undermine the spirit and self-esteem if one allows it. A strong support system will help someone hold on in times of considerable stress and depression. It seems people are becoming more and more sadistic and appear to enjoy the other person's pain. It may be beneficial to withdraw the teenager from the situation altogether, unless some headway can be made in eliminating the problem.

Extending a warm heart and spirit to the injured person can give them a needed remission and help them to recover. Encourage them with scriptural passages and always extend the opportunity to participate in helping
someone else. The best way to go beyond ones own problem is by helping someone else with theirs. It also creates feelings of self-worth and allows them to have a purpose greater than themselves. Helping others takes us outside of ourselves and is the first step in healing.

When one starts to do for others instead of concentrating on what or how they feel, it gives a person immense satisfaction. Seeing that someone has less than we have also given us a sense of gratitude for what we do have. The last thing we must learn to do is, to pray for the bully who hurt us. Forgive them, for any adverse feelings we harbored against them. We only hurt ourselves when we hold these feelings of resentment and hurt inside. God forgives us the way we forgive others, so we must learn to forgive and forget.

Bullies are a part of life, more so now than ever. Hurting people hurt others. If we build people up instead of tear them down, perhaps we can soften their heart, and they will begin to receive God. It is something to think about and work towards.