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.  

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. 

God Is There! Are You Listening? - Part 1

How would you evaluate the ethics of our culture when it comes to going beyond what is required, doing what is commendable? Several years ago, a plane crashed into the Potomac River just outside Washington DC. A young man risked his life to save passengers by swimming out to the plane in freezing water to bring helpless victims to shore.

Luke’s Gospel records the account of the Good Samaritan who helped a wounded man who had been left for dead beside the road. He went beyond the call of duty to insure the injured man was given proper care. This parable also relates how two religious leaders of the same nationality as the wounded man used excuses to pass by and refused to give help.

The strong voice of conscience directs us to do what is morally right and good. Each person can choose to perform spontaneous acts of kindness with no thought of reward. If an opportunity arises to follow the voice of your conscience, are you ready and willing to hear and respond? What would Jesus do?  

Your Conscience: God's Inner Voice - Part 3

Andrei Sakharov, the decorated Soviet physicist, believed his work would ensure peace and protection for his country. He later came to believe that nuclear testing was destructive and dangerous to the human race. Because of this change in critical thinking, he was forced to live in isolation for eighteen years.

Andrei Sakharov listened to the voice of his conscience and stood up for what he believed. His faith in common people and the power of reason made him a hero to people everywhere. When a person listens to his or her conscience, appropriate conduct usually follows.

Andrei Sakharov won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975, and by the time of his death, democracy had engulfed some of the communist nations. Jesus’ determination to do the will of God cost him his life but made possible our redemption from sin. God blesses those who resist the temptation to cave in to the external pressures of the world and choose instead to abide by the inner voice of their conscience.  

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.