The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience

. . . strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men —Acts 24:16

God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.

Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).

God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . .” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.

---

養成良心無虧的習慣

對神、對人，常存無虧的良心。 （徒二十四16）

神的命令，是向他兒子而發的，也就是向我們這些有他兒子在裡面的人而發的。他的命令固然難行，但若一旦聽從，就有從天上來的能力，便變得容易。良心使我依附最高的標準，並且告訴我什麼是最高的要求，教我應該怎樣去行。它是心靈的眼睛，可以舉目向神，又或舉目向他所定的最高的標準，因此良心的標準因人而異。我若經常仰望神，我的良心必然向著神完全的律法，指示我所當行的。問題是我肯不肯順從？我必須保持良心的敏銳，使我行事不至於衝撞神。我與神兒子應該同心同德，就是不論在任何境況下，心意都得以更新，叫我知道[何為神的善良、純全可喜悅的旨意]。

神對我們的管教是極其徹底的。我的耳朵是否敏銳地聽得見聖靈最微小的聲音，而知道當作的是什麼？ [不要叫神的靈擔憂]，他的聲音並不如雷霆；他的聲音是極其微小，很容易就被疏略過去。要使良心對神敏感，就要養成經常向神敞開的習慣。一有遲疑，須即停止。 [我為什麼不可以這樣？ ]那你已在歧路上了。良心一說話，就再沒有遲疑的餘地。你若讓一件事攔阻了你與神在隱密處的交通，那太冒險了。不管是什麼，放下它吧！要常保持內心視野清晰。

祈禱◆主啊，求祢撫摸我，讓我生命的堤岸沐浴祢愛所賜的平安中，我便充滿了讚美。