The Conscience As an Alert System - Part 1

Most people believe they have a conscience, an inner value system designed to keep them within safe boundaries. The conscience sounds an alert when values are in imminent danger of being violated. But how do you get a conscience? A ten-year child gave this answer, "I really don't know. It's something you get without asking for it. It just seems to happen."

Can you imagine a society whose inhabitants have not developed  consciences to guide and control their thoughts and behaviors? Psychopaths and sociopaths are defined as being without a conscience. Everyone then would be subject to their criminal acts because they lack love and compassion for others.

Parents play a major role in the development of a child's conscience. The positive, healthy parent/child attachment based on love, guidance, and correct boundaries is significant to the evolution of a child's conscience. God's word encourages parents to "teach children how to live and they will remember it all their lives." This choice will never be regretted.  

Conscience, Your Inner Voice: To Heed or Not To Heed? - Part 3

Is it possible to silence the voice of conscience? Personal conduct is managed by our value system, so overruling the voice of conscience is possible,  but not advisable. Alcohol and street drugs are a deterrent to heeding what our  conscience tries to communicate. Anger, resentment, and bitterness also play a major role in silencing the sounds of conscience.

As you consider these words, what parallel thoughts are you aware of right now? Parallel thoughts can be significant messages that your conscience is trying to convey. Do these thoughts signal danger you need to heed? History verifies that misfortune is related to weakness of character and conscience.

God's desire is to cleanse your conscience so that your conduct gives witness to his power in your life. You can choose to change and conform to God's purpose for your life. 2 Corinthians 1:12 reminds us, "Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in ways that witness the holiness and sincerity that are from God." This is a worthy objective.