INTRODUCTION

A useful conscience is of great importance. According to Romans 2:15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
See All..., the conscience works in man to either accuse or excuse his thoughts. If the conscience is ignored, it will eventually lose its ability to work in man. The same can be true of a conscience that is defiled by sin. The desired inner working of the conscience was seen to some extent in the Lord’s dealings with the scribes and Pharisees in the eighth chapter of John. The religious leaders brought a woman before the Lord, accusing her of sin. In response, the Saviour suggested that he that was without sin should be the first to cast a stone. One by one, each religious leader walked away being convicted by his own conscience.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Read Genesis 37:18-33 [18] And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. [19] And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. [20] Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. [21] And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. [22] And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. [23] And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; [24] And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. [25] And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. [26] And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? [27] Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. [28] Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. [29] And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. [30] And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? [31] And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; [32] And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. [33] And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
  See All... and Genesis 42:21-22 [21] And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. [22] And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
  See All.... Which son of Jacob had a convicting conscience? What did he do to lead you to believe he had a conscience that could bring conviction? How did the other brothers demonstrate a weak conscience?
• Has your conscience been corrupted so much that it can no longer convict you when you do wrong? What steps would you need to take to mend your conscience?
• The conscience of the religious leaders worked in response to the words of the Lord (John 8:7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
  See All..., 9). How will your conscience best serve you?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to use your conscience to convict you of wrong.
• Ask the Lord to use His word to help your conscience.

HYMN

Take My Life and Let It Be

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