Is Your Conscience a Reliable Guide

MOTIVATED TO ZEALOUS WORKS 

A good conscience does much more than warn us against wrongdoing.  It moves us to do good works.  Foremost among these good works is our participation in the ministry from  house to house and our taking advantage of  opportunities to witness formally. Paul's conscience moved him to do so.  He wrote: "Necessity is laid upon me.  Really, woe to me if I do not declare the good news!"  ( 1 Corinthians 9:16) As we imitate him, our conscience speaks to us, assuring  us that we are doing the right thing.  And by preaching the good news, we appeal to the conscience of those to whom we speak.  Paul said:  "By making the truth manifest, we recommend ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God." -2 Corinthians 4:2.

When Jacqueline was 16 years old, she studied biology in school.  The theory of evolution was explained in some detail.  "My conscience would not let me  share as fully in  class discussions as I normally did. I could not support  the theory of evolution. I approached the teacher and explained my position.  To my surprise, he was very friendly and offered me the chance to speak  to the whole class on the subject of creation."  Jacqueline felt deep inner satisfaction at having listened to and acted in line with her Bible-trained conscience. Does you conscience similarly move you to do what is right?

How fine it is when our goal is to bring our lives  ever more into harmony with Jehovah's standards and ways!  To that end, the conscience  can be an invaluable tool. By regularly immersing ourselves in God's Word, meditating on what we find, and striving to put it into practice, we train our conscience. It will thus prove to be a valuable  asset in our Christian life!

Next time:  Stand Firm in the Faith

From the jw.org publications