SATURDAY - 20TH JANUARY, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
CONSCIENCE MATTERS
Read John 10
John 10:1, KJV
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."
First of all, who judges a thief and calls him who he is if not himself first and foremost? How did I come by that conclusion? Read our Bible verse for today again. It says, "...he that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." While such man as this above is labelled "a thief and a robber", the householder or shepherd earns a different reputation.
John 10:2, KJV
"But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."
So, we know a thief by where [which is illegal to conscience, the law and to God] which he tries to pass to do what he wants to do. A thief or robber breaks order, protocol and laid down processes. The very reason for which he doesn't enter through the door. He rather will devise a means that can accommodate his shady deed.
That's why the title of this teaching is, "conscience matters." Have you observed that if you're the householder, you don't seek to pass through the window or some other ways into your house. You have a believe in the right to do so. That's because you're entering into what is lawfully yours and you're not afraid of being challenged. It is the knowing coming from this that leads to sureness and clear conscience that you're not wrong or in the wrong.
However, a thief or a robber who lacks that same motive is immediately judged by his or her own intention. Knowing he has the intention to steal unnoticed or even kill and destroy, he therefore gives attention not to pass through the door which is obvious and public for use. In that way, he avoids being challenged.
However, let's ask, "why would a thief or robber not enter by the door but climb in some other way?" That's because he lacks the clear conscience of the householder. It is our heart that judges us first of all. Even the hearts of thieves, robbers and sinners judge them first of all. Their hearts highlight for them what is right and wrong. Picking therefore what is wrong and frowned upon by the society, he (the thief or robber) seeks to climb in some other way in order to hide his identity, escape punishment and perpetrate his evil.
Brother and sister, it is your heart that judges you first of all. If your conscience has not been seared, it would judge you on what is right or wrong. Being wrong in the inside can then be seen or felt in your actions and relations with men practically outside. The conscience of thieves and robbers judges them as not being the householder. Being strangers that they know, they don't take the door (though designated and meant for passage). They rather go the extra mile of climbing in some other way. Your conscience is your first judge. I don't care how free a thief is, he can't have the clear conscience of a householder. He can be bold and maintain a straight face but he also knows the need to exercise caution lest he is caught. The householder doesn't have that fear. He's free in his mind. However, if a householder in number 4 goes to another house uninvited but with intention of entering it by force, first of all, his heart becomes aware of that objective and his heart judges the rightness or wrongfulness of it. This is what would solely make him make a choice of climbing in some other way. It is the fact that he knows he has no pass or right to take the door that'll make him voluntarily make a choice of climbing in some other way. Knowing he is illegal, he can't pass through the door. That act is therefore caused first by his having an awareness of himself as a thief.
You and I enter the bank without taking thoughts unnecessarily. That's because we are not thieves and robbers. If robbers would be robbing a bank, they can't have the clear conscience you possess when you visit the bank. While you are unconscious of the security or the cameras, they are. While you don't mind where the security are stationed, it becomes a major deal for them. Why? Intention! It is our intention that first of all separates us. If your intention is good, you believe you're accepted. If yours is bad, you begin to judge yourself. That's why God told Cain if he does well, will he not be accepted?
Genesis 4:6, KJV
"6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?.."
The fact that thieves and robbers know that they're morally wrong is seen in how they seek to escape being caught even when no one is initiating a "pursue him" warrant. If you haven't done or seek to do a thing waranteeing arrest, you shouldn't begin to run far from arrest in the first instance. That's why I said conscience matters. Conscience of wrong and evil doers judge them to be wrong. Being wrong, they judge themselves for being wrong. You see that in their actions and how they seek to separate themselves from the righteous who believe theirs is the door to take.
The Bible says in Proverbs 28:1, "the wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
Did you read, "when no man pursues him?" A robber runs when no man pursues him. How? He doesn't take the door for fear of being challenged! Why? He bears being arrested in mind because he knows he is doing something worthy of arrest. So, he loses peace and inner assurance.
Brethren, we have passed from death to life and we know. In same manner, the Spirit of God witnesses to our spirit that we are children of God (Rom.8:16). The question is, "are you?" When you are like us, you'll naturally live for clear conscience and your heart will be free always. A heart that isn't free is always guilty, afraid, doubtful, anxious and even depressed. It will occasionally sink into the depth crying for deliverance. What it has done or is doing will haunt him. However, thanks for Jesus' blood. Thanks that Jesus saves. You can come to Him now and let the testimony of a new man in Christ become yours. Old things can indeed pass away (II Cor.5:17).
PRAYER: I shall be the man who does it right. I won't be half correct or wrong. My conscience is alive and it shall speak for my good.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Genesis 41:17-42:17, Matthew 13:24-46, Psalm 18:1-15, Proverbs 4:1-6
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