____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ June 11, 2000 ____________________________________________________ The Conscience by Ray Ferris If one were to take four watches, one with the right time, one an hour fast, one an hour slow, and one that is stopped, he might compare them to four types of conscience. One is by the right standard -- it operates correctly; two are by wrong standards -- one operates too loosely and is thus too fast, and one is too binding and is thus too slow; the fourth is by no standard at all. It just doesn't operate. Just what is the condition of your conscience? The word is formed by a combination of two words in the original language of the New Testament -- one being a word that means with and the other a word which means knowledge. It thus conveys the sense of knowing with oneself. Webster says, ``a knowledge or feeling of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right; moral judgment that prohibits or opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle'' (Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, p. 312). Paul writes of the conscience accusing or excusing (Rom. 2:15). Thus the conscience is that which we know within ourselves to measure up to a standard previously established in some way in our thinking. It is the built-in judge that exists in every man. If improper knowledge exists in an individual he may condemn that which is acceptable, or he may approve that which should be condemned. Study Romans 14 to see this principle illustrated. Your Conscience But what of your conscience? Is it one that has been formed and guided to the proper standard by God's word? Or is it one that permits you to go beyond what God would desire due to failure to concentrate on His will? It is entirely possible that it is one that of such possibility ought to motivate us to a fervent study and constant consideration of God's word. It is also possible that one's conscience will allow that which ought not to be done with no judgment of wrong-doing. Paul said, ``It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth'' (Rom. 14:21-22). Note that a conscience that does not condemn us in some practice does not guarantee the practice to be right. We are happy (blessed) when what is allowed does not condemn us! The Christian had best be very careful what practices are approved in his life. Perhaps your conscience has, in essence, ceased to function at all. We read of those who are guilty of ``speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron...'' (I Tim. 4:2). We also read of people whose consciences were defiled (Tit. 1:15). These passages indicate consciences that are not working. Is it possible for that to be true of you? Assurance or Condemnation The conscience is a vital aspect of the Christian's effort to please God. John said, ``And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things'' (I Jn. 3:19-20). Paul wrote, ``And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not in faith: for God hath received him'' (Rom. 14:23, emphasis mine, REF). The basis of the sin is the self-accusation of one's own conscience which condemns him as one who rebels against what he believes to be God's will. The very spirit of rebellion is something which cannot be condoned. John says God, being greater than one's heart, recognizes the rebellious spirit. It is impossible for me to expect the Lord to approve of me when I do not approve of myself. May the Lord help us to develop a proper conscience that will restrain us from any activity that would displease God, and motivate us always to be involved in active good. Once more we quote from the pen of Paul: ``But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men'' (Ac. 24:14-16, emphasis mine, REF). The Spirit-inspired apostle exercised himself (that surely implies that he worked at the task) so that his conscience would not accuse him of doing what he believed to be wrong. Conclusion Remember, failure to be convicted of sin by one's conscience does not guarantee that one is right, as illustrated by Paul's life when he persecuted Christians in all good conscience. He said: ``I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth'' (Ac. 26:9). On another occasion he indicated that even while engaged in those acts, he had ``lived in all good conscience before God until this day'' (Ac. 23:1). On the other hand, conviction by one's conscience that he is not doing right guarantees that he is sinning! God will condemn him. May the Lord help us then to exercise ourselves that we may have a good conscience, but that we also constantly seek to educate ourselves so the conscience will judge our actions aright. ___________________________________________ Meditate On These Things by Kent E. Heaton Sr. The mind is a beautiful blessing given to man whereby he can ponder and think and challenge his world with better things. From the mind come imagination and thought. The mind represents the hope and the aspiration of all man's needs and wants. From the complex mass of the brain, millions upon millions of thoughts explode upon the eyes of the soul. ``I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well'' (Psalm 139:14). The mind is also the seat of a great battle. In the Garden of Eden, Satan used persuasive words to tempt the woman. He did not force her by strength of physical power but with words he caused her to ponder the law of God. ``So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate'' (Genesis 3:6). Paul describes the battle with Satan as a spiritual war -- ``For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ'' (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). The overwhelming battle of the mind is brought to full reality by Paul in Ephesians 6:12 -- ``For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.'' With every moment of our existence, we wrestle against the power of Satan seeking to control and direct our lives. He accomplishes this by the power over our minds. God has offered a way to defeat Satan and refuse to allow Satan to control our lives: ``Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things'' (Philippians 4:8). Paul encourages us to set our minds on these types of things to protect us from the influences of the devil. Meditating on truth, nobility, things that are just, pure and lovely and those things that are of good report with virtue and praise -- this should be the mind of the child of God. To meditate on these virtues purifies the mind of the evil influences. Thinking on these things will defeat the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Giving thought to these things will increase the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). To mediate on something is to give timely cause to its design, purpose and growth in my life. I must awaken in the morning with the desire to think about things that are true during the day. My actions -- determined by my thoughts -- are based upon an honest character showing righteousness to those around me. The outlook I have is pure and lovely and looking for the ``good report'' instead of the bad. My mind looks for the moral goodness in myself and those around me and I seek to share my life with others in need. The result is a day filled with praise and thanksgiving to God for allowing me to meditate and set my mind on things above, ``Where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God'' (Colossians 3:1). The mind is a terrible thing to waste -- especially when we have so many good things to think about. These good things come from time spent in the house of God, sitting at the feet of the Creator and seeking His counsel from His words. What do you think about all day? Meditate on these things! -- Via The Exhorter, August 8, 1999 ___________________________________________ Benefits of Visiting the Sick by Jere E. Frost ``IT IS BETTER TO GO to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better'' (Ecclesiastes 7:2-3). The house of sickness is much like Ecclesiastes' house of mourning. There is much there to learn; there is much to make the heart better, and the blessings for the visit-or may actually be greater than those for the visit-ee. Among those blessings that we can readily appreciate and that Scriptures point out are the following: 1. It reminds us that we are frail. We are all housed in mortal bodies, and thus we are all subject to sickness, injury, aging and death. We will likely have multiple doses of sickness and injury in our lives, we are aging, and we shall certainly die. Remembering this is important; it helps us keep life in perspective. ``Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my day, what it is; that I may know how frail I am'' (Psalm 39:4). 2. It humbles us and makes us thankful for every day we feel good. We will not always feel good. We will have our share of problems and sorrow; it is the common lot of all men. ``Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble'' (Job 14:1). 3. It declares that this world and life are not what we are all about. There is no earthly status or station we can reach that has the least permanence. Do what we will, this world, all the things we can accumulate in it, and our very bodies, will all be brought to nothing. Selfish living is against the true interests of self! It is guaranteed failure! We must serve the Lord if we would gain lasting treasures and pleasures. This world is the preparatory stage that we quickly cross in route to eternity. ``For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it'' (Matthew 16:25). ``Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life!'' (John 6:27) 4. The Lord will take note of it. Even if we are not very good at it, do not always know what to say, and do not see much good resulting from it, God sees. The person you are visiting sees. It is of such significance that Jesus said he will mention it at judgment. ``Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me'' (Matthew 25:34-36). These are but a few, and by no means all, of the benefits and blessings of our being attentive to the sick. This is not the whole of Christianity, but it is a part of it, and by this we declare that we are truly Jesus' disciples. -- Via The Exhorter, May 30, 1999 ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________