I can still hear the echo in my head of my wife’s mom Mari, when frustrated, exclaim “Jiminy Cricket!” Jiminy Cricket is the sidekick friend of Pinocchio’s who also represents to some degree, his conscience. The name Jiminy Cricket is a polite euphemism for Jesus Christ. Jiminy is used in the Disney movie to develop the heart of Pinocchio and to warn him of dangers associated with his choices. Today, people debate whether man has a God-given conscience or not. Do we have an innate understanding of what is right and wrong? The apostle Paul tells us that we do! And all of mankind has received a sufficient revelation of God. The Jews have the law and prophets to inform their conscience. Everyone has nature itself which speaks of the God, the creator. The Gentiles, when they ‘instinctively’ do what the law requires become a law to all who observe. So, we are all without excuse for our sin and breach of God’s holy law. Thank goodness we have more than our conscience, we can look to Jesus who paid the penalty for our sin. Now, no longer does our conscience inform and condemn us, instead our heart is developed by God through repentance, forgiveness, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) Romans 2:12-15 NASB
How operative is my God-given conscience? Have I ‘seared it’ and damaged it by not following God’s holy law consistently? Is there anything in my life that displeases God?
God, as this day begins, I am so glad that You have revealed Yourself, my heavenly Father. You’ve written the law on my heart, given me internally a sense of right and wrong, and forgiven my sin through Christ. Oh, may I respond by walking in Your ways and consistent with the royal law of love. I need today again Your strength, wisdom, encouragement, and guidance. There are people to help and comfort, work to be completed, and insight to gain. Lead and guide me step by step.
