TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY JANUARY 16, 2017.
CONSCIENCE
DEFINITION:
The inner sense of right and wrong impelling one toward the right action; the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse your conscience from acts that lead to death that we may serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that is in you. But do this with gentleness, respect, meekness and fear; keeping a clear conscience so those who speak against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. I Peter 3:15-16.
Have you ever been concerned if you can trust your conscience? When one faces decisions in life, many times decisions will be made based on whether one feels that it is right or wrong. Our conscience does give us a sense of right or wrong and it is good to listen to our conscience.
Conscience comes from training whereby we learn what is right and what is wrong. When we know the difference between right and wrong then our conscience is able to convict us to do what is right and avoid what is wrong. In order to have a conscience that can be trusted to be a reliable guide it must be continually sharpened and molded through the study of God’s Word. It is God’s standard of right and wrong that matters and not the world’s.
We urge you to consider asking God every morning to cleanse your mind and to guide you in your words and deeds for the day. If you will do this we believe God, through His Holy Spirit, will clearly help you know the difference between right and wrong throughout the day and convict you to do right.
Peter reminds us, in the verse above, that when we speak to others to defend and testify of our faith we must be sure that we can speak with a clear conscience. Non-believers look for every opportunity to point out misconduct in the life of a believer so they can criticize the believer’s faith. That is why every believer must be sure that they are living according to God’s ways and not the sinful ways of the world. Our words will carry no weight with others if the way we live contradicts what we say we believe.
Dr Charles Stanley recently preached a sermon on the role of our conscience and he called it, “You can trust your conscience if.”
We would like to share several of his remarks with you because they are scriptural and excellent for one to follow if one is concerned about knowing they have the Lord’s leading in their life.
The first and foremost requirement that one must meet in order to trust your conscience is that you believe in Jesus and you call Him your Lord and Savior.
Secondly, the Word of God must be the basis of all of your conduct in life. This can only be a reality if you spend time daily not only reading the Bible but applying it to your life.
You can trust your conscience when you daily have made it your strong desire and priority to obey God. As you read God’s Word you will hear God talking to you and He will use your conscience to guide you in obeying God and will warn you when you are not. You need to prayerfully consider all of the decisions you make. Before you act or respond to difficult situations you need to pray.
When your conscience sounds an alarm you need to react immediately. It should not be ignored. You must listen to and react to what you know is right or wrong. When you feel guilty about a decision it is important to reverse your direction fast and get back on track. Your conscience is a warning system and you know it has reacted if you feel guilty.
The final point that Dr. Stanley made is that God uses your conscience to compel you to repent for your disobedience. It is the work of your conscience that leads you to repent. It is up to you to do what is right in the first place. If you do wrong it is up to you to repent.
Study these thoughts and make them part of your life and you will be able to trust your conscience. When you put your faith and trust in the Lord and communicate daily with him, you will be able to walk with the confidence that He will use through your conscience to keep you on the path of righteousness.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 6:7-8.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Through studying Your Word teach me today how to distinguish between right and wrong in my daily life. Help me to be faithful to communicate with You so that You can speak to me through my conscience so I will know Your will in every decision I make.
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