Act with Confidence and an Active Conscience - Part 3

History is replete with individuals who were overly confident in their skills and abilities. In 1863 Joseph Hooker, General of the Union Army, remarked: “My plans are perfect, and as I execute them, may God have mercy on General Robert E. Lee, for I will have none.” Months later Hooker resigned after he was defeated by Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

God intended for leaders to have confidence, to be trustworthy, to believe in themselves. Too much pride and too little compassion create false confidence. False confidence led to General Hooker’s defeat. Healthy self-confidence is strengthened by our confidence in God’s faithfulness.

The Apostle Paul registered his confidence in the church at Ephesus. He also spoke of his confidence in the Gospel and his confidence in Christ Jesus. This kind of self-assurance reassured these early Christians that Paul’s conscience was clear, and this gave him the authority to speak the truth as God revealed it to him. 

Act with Confidence and an Active Conscience - Part 2

Webster defines confidence as faith to act in an effective, proper way. Judith Hardwick in The Plateauing Trap states, “Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself, your strengths and limitations rather than depending on affirmation from others.” So, confidence depends on an effective, healthy conscience.

Confidence also depends on knowing what is trustworthy. Psalm 116:7 states assuredly, “Be confident, my heart, for the Lord has been good to me.” Experience gave the Psalmist assurance God could be trusted with whatever he had to face. God can be trusted to warn us of attempts to deviate from what is trustworthy.

God’s word makes us aware of appropriate boundaries to center our lives around. Micah 7:7 provides encouragement: “I watch in hope for the Lord. I wait confidently for God my Savior to hear and save me.” So, give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever. Our conscience gives witness to these facts.  

Act with Confidence and an Active Conscience - Part 1

The conversation between Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden indicates Eve knew the difference between right and wrong. Her choice forever changed her lifestyle. Adam also demonstrated a breach of conscience when he felt ashamed to show himself to God. Adam and Eve, however, demonstrated steps to take when our conscience condemns us. 

Adam stepped out from hiding and admitted to God that he was afraid, guilty, and ashamed. A clear purpose of the conscience is to bring into acute awareness the fact of wrong choices. God created Adam with freedom of choice, but with boundaries, so he would realize freedom to choose is a privilege.

Privilege and choice are yoked together, as is the freedom to obey God and serve him. We have freedom to come before God to confess and seek forgiveness when our conscience condemns us. We like Adam should be afraid and embarrassed, but like Adam we can show courage and step out from hiding and confess our sin to God.  

Allow Your Conscience to Accuse or Excuse - Part 2

I overheard a young person express with exasperation, “Why should I follow my conscience? I’d never have fun. What difference does it make? I’d be bored to death and no one would notice I exist.” Even if we deny the existence of our conscience, it still functions and implores us to do what is right, regardless of the outcome.

We may tell our conscience, “Be quiet! Shut up!” Yet there is still an awareness and knowledge that we should behave in accordance with the guidelines of the conscience. C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity explains that being aware of the conscience is not enough to keep us from disregarding it.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” 1 John 5:3 confirms that loving God means doing what he tells us to do even though it may be difficult.” Isn’t it interesting that loving Jesus parallels appropriate, godly conduct? Love for Christ Jesus, love for others and love for self inspire compliance with what the conscience requires. 

Allow Your Conscience to Accuse or Excuse - Part 1

If everyone has a consciousness of God, what drives people to resist his presence? Romans 2:15 reminds us that God’s laws are written within everyone, and so the conscience accuses or excuses them. What does it take to bring an awareness of God into submission with his kindness and love? For some it takes a crisis that creates hardship and pain.

The consciousness of God should produce basic moral convictions. Remember, our choices determine what has priority, and underlying our choices exist powerful motives. Proverbs 20:27 from the Living Bible makes an interesting observation. “A man’s conscience is the Lord’s searchlight for exposing hidden motives.”

God’s wants us to understand that secret motives give energy to unacceptable thoughts and actions. When God’s searchlight zooms in on areas of your life that are out of compliance with his will, permit his light to direct you back to his purpose for your life. God will find you if you are willing to be found.  

God Is There! Are You Listening? - Part 3

One function of the conscience is to issue warnings when we are out of compliance with our commitment to God, Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit and other people. We admire those who stand up to the infestation of sin and depravities and thus maintain a healthy self-image that witnesses to others. A strong conscience forbids acts detrimental to self and others.

A healthy conscience affirms conduct becoming of persons who care about their spiritual and social well-being. Listen to Paul’s testimony from 2 Corinthians 1:12: “Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world and especially in our relations with you in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.” Could this be your testimony?

It’s incredibly important to listen to the nudging and nurturing of your conscience. The conscience gives advice or consultation where certain behaviors are questionable. God cares for you and wants what is best for you now and in the future. Faithfully trust God to be your guide and protector.