The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections
Today's Devotional • Back to Home Page
May 13
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
Acts 24:16
". . . strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men"
Your Conscience . . .
Today Chambers examines our conscience in relation to our obedience to God’s commandments. Our old nature always found God’s commands hard to keep. But with Christ living in us, obedience becomes possible — even natural — because Christ Himself empowers us to do what God requires. God never intended His commandments to be kept by our old nature. They were always meant for the life of Christ living through us. That has always been His plan for every believer, and every soul on earth is invited into that relationship through His Son.
Our conscience is what keeps us aware of our actions — and the actions we allow into our lives. It works hand‑in‑hand with our obedience to God.
What standard is your conscience upholding?
If you keep God’s ways at the forefront of your mind, then His standards become your highest standards. Your conscience stays quiet when you're doing right, but it speaks up quickly when you've done something wrong. Your conscience can only say, ‘This is wrong.’ The conscience does not have the ability to do anything else. Any details beyond that — the why, the what, and what needs to be made right — come from the Holy Spirit.
Chambers defines conscience as “the inner ability that attaches itself to the highest standard you know.” It is the eye of the soul — the inner reminder of what your standard requires.
This is why different people have different levels of conviction. Your conscience grows as your standard grows. If God is your standard, your conscience becomes sharper, cleaner, and more sensitive. Your conscience can only rise as high as the standard you keep before your eyes. Those who do not have God as their standard will not experience the same level of conviction as a believer who walks with Christ.
Our conscience convicts us and helps us “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2; see also Ephesians 4:23). God created us — and He created our conscience.
Chambers says God instructs us down to the very last detail. But is our ear sensitive enough to hear the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit? His voice is gentle — so gentle it can be missed or dismissed. The Spirit is easy to ignore. But when we cultivate the habit of staying open to God on the inside, our conscience becomes sensitive to His voice.
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30).
When the Spirit speaks, will we obey immediately — or begin to debate? Chambers warns that if we start debating, we must stop at once. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” Whatever it is — drop it.
When your conscience convicts you, act quickly to correct the issue. Stay in obedience to the Holy Spirit and to the direction God gives.
Keep your conscience clear.
Prayer
Scripture References
These support the opening paragraphs
Philippians 2:13 — “God works in you to will and to do…”
John 15:5 — “Without Me you can do nothing.”
Galatians 2:20 — “Christ lives in me…”
Verses About the Conscience Itself
These speak directly about the conscience — its purity, its role, and its importance.
Acts 24:16 — “A conscience void of offense toward God and men.”
1 Timothy 1:5 — “A good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1:19 — “Holding faith and a good conscience…”
1 Timothy 3:9 — “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
Hebrews 13:18 — “We trust we have a good conscience…”
1 Peter 3:16 — “Having a good conscience…”
1 Peter 3:21 — “…the answer of a good conscience toward God.”
Verses About Conviction, Inner Searching, and God’s Standard
These show how God examines the heart and reveals truth.
Psalm 139:23–24 — “Search me, O God…”
Psalm 19:12–13 — “Cleanse me from secret faults…”
Proverbs 20:27 — “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord…”
Verses About Obedience and Immediate Response
These match Chambers’ emphasis on obeying without debate.
James 4:17 — “To him that knows to do good…”
John 14:21 — “He who keeps My commandments…”
Luke 11:28 — “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.”
Verses About Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
These support hearing the Spirit’s whisper.
Ephesians 4:30 — “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”
Galatians 5:16 — “Walk in the Spirit…”
Galatians 5:25 — “If we live in the Spirit…”
Isaiah 30:21 — “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way…’”
Verses About Renewal of the Mind
These connect to Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23.
Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Ephesians 4:23 — “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
Colossians 3:10 — “Renewed in knowledge after the image of Him…”
Titus 3:5 — “Renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Comments
Post a Comment