Conscience | October 5
… as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Romans 2:12-16
Father, Your chosen people, some of whom have not yet claimed the Messiah as their Savior, are now being judged by the law, the same law that you gave Moses on Mt. Sinai. We know Father that no man that ever lived, aside from Jesus, Yourself incarnate, is without sin and that You will not let sin or sinful people enter into Your presence. Yet Father, Israel belongs to You and man will not frustrate Your plan of redemption for Your people. We pray for Your chosen people in this time of testing for them and acknowledge our faith as coming from the truth which You revealed to them.
Now Father, You have told us that the truth is written on the hearts of Gentile believers. We, unlike Israel, who were given the truth by the law, have been given it in an indelible way; it is written upon our hearts. We, and Israel, may choose to look away from the truth of the new covenant, brought about by the healing sacrifice of Jesus, but if we do, we shall remain in our sin and will be judged by the law, a frightening, no, a terrifying prospect.
You have said that our conscience (the truth inscribed on our hearts) either accuses us or excuses us. We never wonder whether we are sinning. We always know and because this is true You have sent the power of the Holy Spirit to help, comfort, counsel and teach us how to deal with temptation and sin. Father, this day, help us come to Jesus and to be as much like Him as possible. We must decrease; He must increase, in the affairs of our lives. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project
