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.  

God Is There! Are You Listening? - Part 2

How did you come to believe in what is right or wrong, good or bad, appropriate and inappropriate? The Apostle Paul emphatically declares in Romans 2:14-15 that those people who have never heard of the Ten Commandments do by nature what is required. They do so because it is written in their hearts and minds, and their conscience bears witness.

It’s possible to mute out and disregard the values promoted by the conscience. This doesn’t imply freedom from guilt resulting from wrongful choices and behaviors. Delayed consequences can be more painful because of accumulated guilt. The purpose of an active conscience is to guide, protect, accuse and defend each of us.

A weakened conscience can be strengthened by renewing your covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, creating a place in your heart for God’s word, and finding a Christian mentor to be an accountability partner. God’s purpose is to cleanse the conscience so fellowship with him can be possible and enjoyed. 

Your Conscience: God's Inner Voice - Part 2

What is the conscience and what role does it play in determining conduct? The conscience functions as an inner voice, pointing out the best possible moral good for ourselves and others. It recalls what is ethical and appropriate by directing us to choose what is truly good, with the goal of learning to enjoy these choices.

Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth century Italian theologian, wrote that happiness is not equivalent to wealth, power or pleasure. Happiness involves a life full of things that human beings need in the right order and in the right proportion. The purpose of conscience is to help us avoid guilt.

Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachael, maintained his moral principles even under disastrous circumstances. He made critical decisions based upon what his conscience urged him to do. The voice of conscience directs you to consider the long-term effects of your choices. Are they compatible with what is right, good, and godly? God encourages choices that reflect his highest purpose for your life. 

Your Conscience: God's Inner Voice - Part 1

Conscience is designed to govern our thoughts and action, urging choices toward what is right and pleasing to God. The job of conscience is to develop an acute awareness in the mind and spirit when there is danger of engaging in behaviors harmful to one’s values and self-respect. How important is your conscience to you.

Conscience has been called the inner voice of God, alerting us to unacceptable motives, thoughts and actions. It’s difficult to listen to the voice of conscience when secret desires and motives override what is acceptable to God. It isn’t sinful to have a bad thought, but to nurture the thought is a serious sin.

Proverbs 23:7 issues this warning: “For as a person thinks in his heart, so he is.” This warning is against having detrimental thoughts that result in wrong choices and hurtful actions. However, we can choose to have the mind of Christ, allowing our thoughts to be anchored in him. It’s possible to do this, but it takes determination.