Our Presidential Candidates promise to lead our Nation to a preferred future, if elected.  They promise more jobs, less crime.  They promise to secure our borders and to defeat Isis.  They promise equality for all and promise to make America great again.  The Candidates have  various experience.  They are both wealthy and powerful.  But what about character?  The Heart of the matter is character, whether you are running for the President of the United States or you’re a police officer serving and protecting our communities.  Character matters in the classroom, and out of the classroom.  Character matters even if you’re the janitor cleaning up after everyone has gone home.  Character matters if you’re a stay at home Mom or Dad.  You see, your character is really who you are and it is your character that really matters to God, to whom we shall all give an account to someday.  Some character qualities: Compassion vs. Indifference; Dependability vs. Inconsistency; Gentleness vs. Harshness; Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness; Punctuality vs. Tardiness; Virtue vs. Impurity; Truthfulness vs. Deception.   For the Christ follower, character is lived out in the reverence and fear of God, as opposed to honoring man.  Godly character will follow Jesus’ words, “whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” (cf. Matthew 7:12)  Godly character will exhibit the fruit of the spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (cf. Galatians 5)   The Bible instructs us to “keep a close watch on YOURSELF” (cf. 1 Timothy 4: 16) - a watch on our character, because  you see, the Heart of  the Matter - is Character.

In His Service,

Pastor Rodney