August 16

Nehemiah 4:1-6:19
Psalm 98:1-9
Proverbs 20:10 -12
Romans 9:6 -26

The Conscience Corrected
Even a young man is known by his actions—if his behavior is pure and upright.—Proverbs 20:11

One way that the Holy Spirit exercises His convincing ministry in our lives is by addressing our consciences, prevailing upon them to take the way of Christ in every issue. Romans 9:1 brings together the objective standard, “the truth in Christ,” and the subjective standard, “my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit.”

Some people say, “I’m living in accordance with my conscience—isn’t that enough?” No, for conscience by itself is not a safe guide. Conscience is the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong—according to the standards you uphold. It can be taught to approve directly opposite things.

For example, a missionary intervened to stop an Indian woman from throwing her child into the Ganges River as a human sacrifice. “But my conscience tells me to do it,” she said. “Yes,” said the missionary, “and my conscience tells me to stop you from doing it.”

Conscience is not an infallible guide unless it has in it the highest content possible—the Holy Spirit. He can be relied upon to act as Jesus would act in every situation, for the Spirit is a Christlike Spirit. I am bold to say that there is not one of you reading these lines (if you are a Christian) who, by the mercy of God, doesn’t know something in your conscience of the work of the Holy Spirit as Convincer. He pleads in you and with you to bring your conscience to the highest place possible, “a clear conscience toward God and men” (Acts 24:16).

Prayer
O Father, I surrender myself and my standards to You for cleansing and correction. Teach me the standards of Christ so that my conscience may bear a true witness. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Further Study
Rm 14; 15:1-13; Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12; 1Tim 1:5
What is Paul teaching about our conscience?
How does he relate it to the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

Every Day with Jesus Daily Bible – August 16