03/19/2020
What strives to keep us from sinning when we are tempted to our very limits? What haunts us day and night, and pursues us relentlessly to repent, and seek forgiveness for even the smallest of sins? It is the Holy Spirit, coupled with our conscience, and together they serve as the causeway that joins our spiritual selves with our physical selves; together they work to reconcile them. Do you have a nagging sin that causes you to toss and turn at night, or a guilt from long ago that convicts you when your mind tries to find peace? This is the burden that comes from a handshake between our faith, and our conscience which resides within our mind, and leads us to contrition.
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
In this verse we find the apostle Paul writing to Timothy concerning the false teaching of some in the church at Ephesus who were slipping back into a law based instruction due to their lack of understanding concerning the gospel message. He was wanting Timothy to be to the church what the Holy Spirit and Conscience are in our selves. Paul wanted Timothy to spiritually convict the hearts and minds of those who were straying, and bring them back to a proper understanding of Jesus, and Christianity.
“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,”
1 Timothy 1:18-19 ESV
Within ourselves we experience the same conviction, that the church at Ephesus received, and are brought to the realization of our wrongdoing by the Spirit, and our conscience, as they work in unison. Is your soul at peace today? Is your mind calm regarding your faithfulness? How about your heart, is it restful, and filled with the Love of God? Are you walking in the way of the Lord as your spirit, and conscience dictate that you should?
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 ESV
Are you prepared to face the adversity and affliction that today brings? Is your faith at peace within you, and do you fearlessly see God in the midst of the suffering in the world that surrounds you? If a trumpet blast were to sound, and Jesus were to come right now, in a cloud with power, would you be fearfully burdened by unforgiven sin, or joyous in your faith... having risen fresh from your knees, with a clear conscience, and having responded wholeheartedly to the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.”
Isaiah 30:20 ESV
We face Pandemic in the world today, and in its midst there is much more than just sickness of the body, there is temptation, and a pestilence that racks our spirit as well. People horde at the expense of their neighbors, defraud those who suffer by attacking them at the moment of their greatest weakness, and believers are tempted to quake by letting doubt and fear draw them away from the Word of God. In such times as this our conscience works overtime, and the Holy Spirit shouts out words of understanding... but are we listening, or has fear covered our ears with its cold hands? These are the days of our greatest spiritual challenge, and we should listen to our conscience, and the Holy Spirit as Satan attempts to pull us into fear, and tempts us to reenter the world. In times such as this we should don the full armor of God, and wield His sword against our enemy... the lord of darkness.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:6-8 ESV
So how do we sleep at night, and is our spirit at peace with the Lord? We should find comfort in the Holy Spirit who was sent for times such as these, and our conscience should awaken us to what is right and good in us, and our belief. Let’s pray for strength of faith, and forgiveness of our sins. If we don’t know how to pray we should let the Holy Spirit pray for us in divine utterance, and let’s follow our conscience which guides us to a stronger grasp of our faith in God, and Jesus Christ.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for my conscience, and your Holy Spirit. I thank you for their unwavering guidance towards you, and Jesus, during times of great difficulty, and temptation. I thank you for your Holy Word, and am comforted by it. I thank you for my conscience that convicts me when I have strayed from you, and points out the most obscure of sins. Help me Lord God to love you more each day, and strengthen me in that love despite the uncertainty that runs rampant in the world, and seeks to undermine it. Teach me father to hold fast to my faith, especially when evil, and sickness, surround me... attacking my faith, and attempting to destroy my hope. Hear my prayers for others who are sick, and lost. Hear my prayers for the souls that quake with fear, and the believers that teeter on the verge of sin. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who makes all things work together for good. Praised be your name as we lift you up in the midst of every storm, because you are our rescue in both body and soul. Wonderful are your ways that are merciful, and good! Great are you who knows no defeat, and claims victory from the verge of defeat. All glory is yours Father, and it is made perfect in the grace you have extended through Jesus. This is the day that you have made, and we rejoice in it, and are glad in spite of any hardships that might challenge us. You speak to us by our conscience and the Holy Spirit to redeem us, and claim us as your own. You are our strong tower, and our deliverer, and in you we rest now, and forevermore.
“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—”
Romans 9:1 ESV
Rich Forbes