Though we all know it’s there, most of us give little thought to what the conscience is, how it works, and why it’s important. We may find it annoying when our conscience keeps us from enjoying the things we want to do. In fact, some psychologists have told us our problem is a conscience that has been programmed by outdated religious ideas that keep us from being who we really are. They say we should throw off the shackles of our conscience. That, often, has a certain appeal to our sinful nature. But what is the conscience, why is it one of God’s mercies, and why might it need re-informing?
Today’s Readings:
Song of Solomon 1 & 2
Psalm 104.1-9
Proverbs 24.15-16
1 Corinthians 11.17-34
How to Re-Inform Your Conscience & Why You Should
1 Corinthians 11.17-34:
Examining Ourselves
The Bible repeatedly tells us that self-examination is an important part of our walks with God (Ps. 139.23-24; Job 13.23; Ps. 26.2; 1 Cor. 11.31; 2 Cor. 13.5; Gal. 6.4) One writer said that most of us fail to lead fruitful lives because we fail to lead examined lives. Biblical self-examination can breathe life into our relationships with God and others and protect us from God’s judgment and discipline.
Some have criticized the idea as overly introspective. To be sure, self-examination can become a hyper-focus on self. Some people today have become preoccupied with how they look to others, fearful of making a wrong decision, and fearful of failure. That is not biblical self-examination.
Fueled by Social Media & Not the Conscience
No doubt this has been fueled by social media.
Samuel James on the Gospel Coalition’s website said:
The hyper-examined life is exhausting. Life, including the Christian life, isn’t meant to be lived by way of nonstop self-appraising and people-pleasing. A day-in, day-out regiment of the hyper-examined life leads inevitably to burnout, frustration, and a nagging sense of unfulfilled desire not based in reality.
So, what is biblical self-examination?
Again quoting Samuel James:
By contrast, the well-examined life is not driven by fear or compulsive self-searching but by a humble desire for grace. Personal failures are not meant to be endlessly agonized over but repented of, with confidence in God’s provision for forgiveness and transformation (2 Cor. 7:10).
How to Examine Our Lives Biblically
In today’s reading, verses 27-32, Paul gives instructions for how we should approach the taking of the Lord’s Supper. He says that we should use it as an opportunity to examine ourselves to see if there is any unconfessed sin or unreconciled relationships in our lives.
If so, we should confess them to the Lord and repent. Repentance is more than regret or feeling sorry, it carries with it the idea of turning from our way and going God’s way. Paul said that because we fail to examine ourselves, many in the body of Christ are sick, and some sleep (have died prematurely).
But preparing for communion isn’t the only time we should examine ourselves. If we’re to stay out of spiritual ditches, stop falling back into the same sins over and over, and be guided by the Holy Spirit, we need a biblically informed conscience. That requires making self-examination a regular part of our walks with the Lord.
How do we do that honestly when we tend to justify our own actions and responses?
The Standard
The standard is not what someone is posting on social media. It’s not necessarily what our parents told us it should be [unless they are faithful followers of Christ], or what seems right to us. The standard, the mirror we’re to look into as we examine ourselves, is God’s Word.
But the Bible is a big book. And while every verse is important and should be followed, trying to line up our lives with every one might seem like an overwhelming task. So, where do we start? What are the most important commandments to follow?
Jesus was asked a similar question in Matthew 22:
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (NLT).
Did you get that? “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Am I Loving God?
If I love God, I won’t use His name in vain or worship other gods.
And if I’m loving God as I should, I won’t look for loopholes for disobedience and obeying Him won’t be a burden, but a delight. That doesn’t mean my flesh will always like it, but my heart’s desire will be to please Him.
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments (Jn. 14.15).
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5.3).
So, the first thing each of us should ask ourselves is, “Am I loving God as I should?” Even though I fail often, do I want to obey God or do I feel deprived or restricted by God’s commandments? Is God’s Word a delight to me? Or do I resent what God asks of me and make excuses and justify it when I disobey?
Am I Loving My Neighbor?
Second, am I loving my neighbor as myself?
If I love my neighbor, I won’t commit adultery with her husband, steal from him, or covet what he or she has. I won’t lie to her or murder him with my words or actions.
The Apostle John said:
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth (1 Jn. 1.18).
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 Jn. 4.20).
A good way to examine how well we love others is to study and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13.4-7 which says:
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
We can ask ourselves, “How did I do in each of the areas listed over the last 24 hours (remember our standard is Christ, not how we’re doing compared to someone else)?”
How Am I Doing?
If you’re struggling in some relationship, it may be helpful to be specific. How am I doing with my spouse, my children, my co-workers, strangers I meet, other drivers …
- Have I been patient … even when others tempted me to be impatient?
- Have I been kind … even with those who are unkind?
- Am I envious or boastful?
- Have I been rude?
- Was I selfish, irritable, or resentful?
- Have I taken into account a wrong suffered—have I kept score?
- Did I rejoice when someone fell or did I rejoice when others obeyed the truth?
- Did I bear up under whatever came my way without complaining or sinning in response?
- Is my hope in God?
- Did I believe the best of others?
- Am I enduring by trusting in God?
When we find we have not been loving, we must go to God and the person against whom we have sinned and ask for forgiveness.
Why not take a few minutes and meditate on that passage and the demonstrations of love listed there? Then ask yourself those questions.
Re-Informing the Conscience
It’s amazing how doing that every day for a season will begin to re-inform our consciences and help us be more aware of our unloving behavior. Behavior that we often minimize or justify, especially, if we are focused on our own standard rather than God’s. And if we continue to meditate on God’s truth, a biblically informed conscience will begin to prompt and convict us when we start down the wrong road instead of afterward.
Gradually, if we continue studying and deepening our understanding of God and His Word, new ways of thinking, speaking, and acting can become our habitual way of responding (Eph. 4.22-24). This is how we grow and change and become more like Christ.
Lord, help us to examine ourselves, see our own sin, and turn away from it so that we won’t require your discipline before we’re willing to change and grow. Help us to be willing to remove the logs from our own eyes before we ever try to point out the specks in the eyes of others. Give us a hunger for Your Word and the will and the desire to do what is pleasing to you and to delight in your commandments. As we do, help us to re-inform our consciences in light of that truth and to change how we think, speak, and act in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you would like to print out a Daily Self Examination Sheet to use in your prayer or quiet time you can use the link below. You might fold it in half and place it in your Bible for easy reference each day.
Here is the free printout:
Daily Self Examination Sheet Printout
Today’s Other Readings:
Song of Solomon 1 & 2:
God & Sex
Just in case you didn’t think God sees sex as a good thing, think again. The Song of Solomon is a book about the sexual relationship between a man and a woman! It’s written in the form of Hebrew poetry, something most of us find somewhat foreign, but if we go through it prayerfully, I believe God will give us some great nuggets of truth.
Truths that can open our minds, not just to God’s thoughts on sexual intimacy, but to the incredible love He has for us and the intimacy He desires with us. BUT REMEMBER: Marriage is supposed to be a picture of Christ and His church (Eph. 5.32)! So even if you’re single, the Song of Songs has much to say to you.
Psalm 104.1-9:
Knowing Him
Even though God in His greatness cannot be measured by natural things, the psalmist uses natural things to help us understand in some measure the power and majesty of God.
And even though no one can know Him fully, we can and should grow in our understanding of Him by studying His Word and spending time in His presence.
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (Jn. 17.3).
Proverbs 24.15-16:
Getting Back Up with God’s Help
For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, … (v. 16).
God gives the grace to get up again!
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we will talk about holiness and what it is, more about biblical love, and how God intended sex within marriage to be “red hot.”
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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