DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: AUGUST 25 CONSCIENCE: THE VOICE WITHIN (2) SCRIPTURE: CORINTHIANS 8: 11 – 12; 1 THIMOTY 2: 4

Discussing on conscience is like discussing attributes of God. It has thousands of angles fitting every field of knowledge. This devotional is just scratching it on the surfaces but with intent of giving readers its importance to Christians. One James Madison’s quote, reproduced by Pastor Reuben Egolf says: “Conscience is the most sacred of all property.”  Dwelling on this quote, we can infer that conscience is the umpire of the soul: it either approves or disapproves of one’s action. There should be no time Christians should go against the conscience that disapproves what is intended to do. Working with good conscience is same as ‘walking with the Spirit of God.’ God’s Spirit is given to guide every Christians against doing wrong things.

Christians must know that conscience is one of the most powerful influences in life. Reason one Pastor Egolf wrote and I quote: “ Conscience is one of the most powerful influences in the life. It provides parameters and borders in the behaviour of the person.” Christians who are insensitive to the voice of conscience are seen as hypocrites because it makes them behave wrongly such as telling lies. Reason 1 Tim. 4: 2 says that people lie and behaves as hypocrites because of insensitivity of their conscience. Christians who work by their natural consciences following the worldliness of this world can be judged as having their conscience seared. What this means is that their conscience is like been burnt with hot iron as people use hot iron to burn the surface of wound for healing. The iron burnt off the skins round the wound but caused more damage to the tissue.

One thing to point out here is that Christians who caused troubles and sorrow for fellow Christians work with “unregenerate conscience.” Some matured Christians who have no conscience treat others any how without remorse. Apostle Paul talked on this in 1 Cor.8: 11 – 12 where he said most Corinthian Christians used their knowledge making the weak among them to perish. Their behaviour is likened to wounding their weak conscience. Any Christian wounding the consciences of the weak brothers are sinning against Christ. To wound here means to damage. We must be careful not to allow our behaviour damage our fellow Christians. Working by good conscience is key to this. Our actions should be used to enlighten others rather than damaging them. What makes it easy for us to enlighten and develop our conscience continually is the Word of God.

PRAYER:

ALMIGHTY FATHER, give me the heart of humility so that I will not use my knowledge of the Kingdom to damage the faith of the weaker brothers I am meant to build up, in the name of Jesus Christ.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch

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