Key Scripture. John 8:9, Acts 24:16.  

John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  (Adultery, Scribes & Pharisees)

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

Relevance

The conscience is one of the most marvellous allies a person has. On the other hand, it can be a huge pain in the mind and heart if you're into sin. 

In its unique inner way, this hidden alarm bell informs us when we're being rude, fallen into procrastination or laziness, if we have lied, tried to deceive, broken a commandment or national law, or even stolen a notepad or pen from work.  

Most often, it begins working prior to the sin or fault, speaking softly at first, then louder, until we either follow our conscience and cease our folly or turn it off and continue down the pathway of unrighteousness. Most of us have turned our conscience off at some time.

Our first key scripture, John 8:9, highlights a very familiar incident that embodies the use of conscience—The woman caught in adultery. The full context reveals that the Scribes and Pharisees, who appear to have set up the scenario to trap Jesus, are ultimately judged and condemned by their own conscience.

This tells us that despite all the things they did to Jesus and His disciples, as well as anyone who listened to Him, they had consciences, contrary to what we might think. 

Had they listened to their conscience when they were in the planning stage and abandoned their scheme, it would never have been so embarrassing for them. Shame is the promotion of fools (Proverbs 3:35). 

Furthermore, had either the woman or man involved in the adultery listened to that inner voice of caution, this scenario would not have been in the Bible—well, not with them anyhow. 

Consciences work on different levels, depending on how sharp they are toward righteousness—the gauge put in by God.

We can drift so far away from that post, even as a child, that we get to a stage where we do not blush anymore. Jeremiah 6:15 shows how far we can distance ourselves from righteousness—Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:    

This scripture talks about certain people of Israel who were lured so far away from God by the abominable priesthood of the day that their pride in evil was all-commanding.

When we lose the fear of God, our slide begins. The priests featured in the adultery scenario were only embarrassed when challenged by Christ. The disciples wouldn't have dared challenge them to their faces, and neither would any other person except John the Baptist. The priests would simply dismiss or penalise anyone who dared.

Nobody could make this priesthood blush. They had individually dissociated themselves so far from the righteousness they should have all been living and teaching that sin reigned. Their thoughts had all but divorced them from their conscience.    

Contrarily, we see in our second key scripture a true New Testament Priest, the Apostle Paul, who lived his Word so deeply that all his thoughts created a conscience void of offence. What an objective to work on. That is one aim we should pursue. 

The brief lesson for us?

The big question is, what do we dwell on?

A conscience that works well is one that obeys God. As we obey the Word of God, the water of the Word washes over us in varying aspects, bringing thoughts that create a conscience that we either accept or reject.  

The Lord gave us free will to accept or reject. But there is always a prize or penalty somewhere at the end of those decisions.

Our job is to make sure we direct our minds to stuff that is void of offence toward God and fellow human beings.

Without that, we become beastly by degrees.   

Prayer

Dear Lord, praise you for conscience. Please help me sharpen mine so acutely that I become a pure vessel of righteousness and holiness. 

Photo by Thought Catalogue.