*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*TELL YOURSELF THE TRUTH.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
1 John 3:19-23
*And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.*
*For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.*
*Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.*
*And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
While the believer has both the Holy Ghost and a conscience, the unbeliever has a conscience to guide
the rightness or wrongness of his/her behavior.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus. the Spirit of Truth. He can not lie, John 16:13. He is in the believer, the true believer of Christ.
The believer has a conscience. His/her conscience will always align with God's Spirit. Both the Holy Ghost and his/her conscience will always say the truth because his/her conscience is ruled by the Holy Ghost, Rom 9:1. The Holy Ghost gives his/her spirit's conscience understanding.
The unbeliever does not have the Holy Spirit because he/she is not born of God., ref 1 John 3:9.
He/she is still in their sins, 1 Cor 2:14. He/she, however, has a conscience to guide him/her.
His/her conscience is in trouble. As much as his/her conscience tries to guide, he/she will not obey the truth because he/she does not have the Holy Ghost to help him/her. So, such an individual ends up with a dead conscience. When he/she is wrong, his/her conscience is unmoved, insensitive, unapologetic, and unconvicting. Even when his/her conscience is expected to convict him/her of her evil, he/she does not listen because evil is dominant in his/her nature.
The heart and conscience are often used interchangeably.
In addition to the writing of Paul on conscience, the Apostle John tells us
about our hearts and conscience.
His writing teaches us more clearly about the relationship of the Holy Ghost, our hearts and conscience
In 1 John 3:21, John teaches us how we can know we are of the truth.
John tells us that in what we do , if our hearts or conscience condemns, convict, or tells us we are wrong, John tells us we will not feel at ease with God and if we do not feel at ease with God in our conscience, how much less ease will we feel with God who is greater than our hearts and He knows all things!
We must fear that nothing is hidden from Him because we are in His hands.
So we must get it right with Him to clear our conscience and do what is right.
If, however, in what we do, our heart or conscience does not condemn us that we are guilty, John says we will have boldness to come to God. We will have confidence to approach Him.
John further says that when we do not have a guilty conscience, we will receive from him anything we ask because we keep his commands and do what pleases Him
In other words, John is saying that when your heart and conscience are clean with God. You have no fear of guilt to approach Him.
You are an answer to the Psalmist who says only those with clean hands will ascend unto the hills of the Lord, Ps 24:3-6.
So no one is escaped from the guide of rightness and wrongness.
Even the wicked know they are wicked, ref Matt 7:11.
While the Holy Spirit guides the conscience of the believer to the truth, the unbeliever has the conscience to guide his spirit to do right and avoid wrong.
Tell yourself the truth!
*Remorse corner.*
Though the unbeliever does not have the Holy Spirit, he/she is capable of knowing right from wrong because he/she has a conscience.
Prov 20:11 *Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.*
*Call to Word action.*
Job 32:8 *But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Do you want to tell yourself the truth?
Listen to your conscience and, more importantly, allow the Spirit of God to give you understanding. When you are wrong, the Spirit of God will tell you and condemn you.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me. Do not let me lie to You , to others, and myself. Let my conscience bear witness with the Holy Spirit of Truth, in Jesus name.
Good morning, all, and be blessed as you come into His presence today.
God bless you.
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