Theme: THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE
The recognition and acceptance of a principle of conduct as binding is called conscience. According to Encarta Encyclopedia, conscience is seen as “the inner sense of right and wrong in moral choices”, “the satisfaction that follows action regarded as right”, “the dissatisfaction and remorse resulting from conduct that is considered wrong”. Some writers portray conscience as a faculty of the mind “having moral jurisdiction, either absolute or as the means God has put in place to warn man against evil”.
Cicero, the Roman philosopher holds that conscience is an inner voice “that speaks with greater authority than any form of public approval, the inner witness to divine law which is common to all human beings”. Saint Paul referred to conscience as the law written on the human heart. (Romans 2:15) Job the prophet asserted that he would do the righteousness of God at all times so that his conscience would not judge him. (Job 27:6) He says: “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” We pray God to help us to have an unwaverable faith in Him.
Text: “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” – Genesis 3:8.
Comment: The immediate consequence of eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was that the couple became conscious that they were naked. When the angel of God materialized and they heard his voice, they had to hide themselves. In other words, they were troubled by guilty conscience, a state of mind which makes one to be easily fearful. “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1) To relieve themselves of their guilt, they shifted blames for their action: the man blamed the woman, “whom thou gavest me”, while the woman blamed the serpent. But no one can deceive God. Both are held responsible for their actions and sentence is passed on them. Sin brings one low. One should not allow another person to talk him into breaking the laws of God no matter how highly placed or dear such a person is to one. This is because the person you have respect for or you do not want to offend cannot save or protect you from the consequences. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” – Hebrews 10:22, 23.
Theme: COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS 11:32 - 40
Text:“For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.” – Jeremiah 32:3.
Comment: Because the king and people of Judah had given themselves to the worship of the devil, God Almighty used Jeremiah the prophet to warn them, telling them that if they would not repent, He would make Jerusalem and the temple they took pride in to suffer the fate of Shiloh, where the name of God was in earlier times before it was destroyed and abandoned. (Joshua 18:1; 19:51; 1Kings 14:2.) For warning the people against sin the leaders determined that Jeremiah must die. (Jeremiah 26:1-10) However, some of the elders, together with Ahikam, an officer of the king, intervened to prevent them from their wicked plot.
Again, when the Chaldeans besieged Jerusalem, Jeremiah was instructed by God to tell them to submit to their rule to avoid death and destruction. This was seen as treason for which the leaders of the people convinced King Zedekiah to cast Jeremiah into.a well. But God also delivered him. When we stand up for the truth, even in the face of danger, God will give us victory in the end. St. Paul in his writings recalled God delivered them “from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10).. He added that God Almighty shall deliver him “from every evil work, and will preserve him unto his heavenly kingdom. – 2 Timothy 4:18