INTRODUCTION

A man’s conscience is worth protecting. So much so, that a man’s decisions in life ought often to be dictated by how his choices will affect his conscience as well as those who know of the decisions. Paul summed this thought process up when he said, "Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." Sometimes this great concern for conscience moves an individual to submit himself to those who rule, perhaps even unworthily (Romans 13:5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
See All...). Other times, it may cause a man to suffer wrongfully, enduring grief. Either way, a man who cares about the conscience will allow its well-being to change his life.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Read 1 Peter 2:19-23 [19] For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. [20] For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. [21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
  See All.... David suffered at the hands of Saul and had the opportunity to kill Saul twice. Yet, both times, he yielded to the Lord's will and prevented his men from sinning, for they would have killed Saul (1 Samuel 24:4-7 [4] And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. [5] And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. [6] And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. [7] So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
  See All...: 1 Samuel 26:5-9 [5] And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. [6] Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. [7] So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. [8] Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. [9] And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?
  See All...).
• What decisions do you make based upon a desire to protect your conscience? What have you done to protect the conscience of others that you know?
• What are some of the desired functions of the conscience? How do these functions make it extremely important for a believer to work hard to protect the conscience of others?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you wisdom concerning others’ consciences.
• Ask God to show you if you have hurt someone’s conscience.

HYMN

Footprints of Jesus

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