Steer us right

For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:13-15)

"Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune." (Carl Jung) That is the power of the conscience - it warns us something is out of 'tune'. When we begin to 'tune into' God's Word and his still small voice, our conscience will begin to alert when we are about to do or say something that is not in keeping with his will. It is learning to listen to that 'alert' and 'heed' its warning that gives us all that frustration!

Listening isn't heeding. Heeding is the condition in which one actually gives careful attention to what is being said or warned. It is more than a casual observation that something is not right. It is actually putting into application what one is warned about. When that 'niggling' comes deep within our conscience, it is like God is saying, "Listen up!". He is asking for us to exert some 'carefulness' with each step we are about to take. It isn't a moment for deliberation - it is a moment for determination.

So much of what we encounter in the way of compromise or sin in our lives is because we knew what was right to do, then deliberated way too long on 'if' the choice was good or bad. We let the appeal of the temptation overtake our reason. It is possible we argue a bit too much about what is right or wrong for us rather than just listening to our conscience confirm that it is wrong. The more we begin to ask God for his will, the more he will show us that will. The longer we dwell on the 'is this your will' question, the harder it can actually become to know it because we allow all kinds of confusing thoughts into our minds that cloud the clarity proclaimed by our conscience.

Knowing the will of God is important, but listening when our conscience tells us not to do something, or to forge full speed ahead is also a 'tool' God gives us in living upright and consistent lives. We may not have the Word of God right there when the choice stands before us, but we do have our conscience to guide us. If we commit our thoughts to God and fill our minds with his Word, it is possible our conscience might just 'steer us right' instead of wrong. Just sayin!