Conscience, April 20

Conscience, April 20

"This is the covenant that I will make with them...says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
... brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:16, 19-23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are so grateful that we are no longer judged by the Law. If we were to choose to remain under the Law, our sins would still be with us. For the New Covenant, we are grateful. You not only cleansed us of our sins but You then inscribed the truth on our hearts and minds, forever, and the miracle of being born again with a new purpose in life is ours if we would but love and obey.

We no longer stand outside the Holy of Holies, but we are invited behind the veil, right into Your presence and there You call us friends. Picturing that moment is both difficult and sublime. Such truth is too great for us to fully comprehend.

Let us draw near to You Jesus, our High Priest and more, for cleansing, strengthening, counseling, and comfort. No one on this earth can do for us what You have already done and what You are yet able to do if we but trust and obey.

The refreshment of Your cleansing water in our lives daily is like none other. You are the Living Water. Fill us afresh. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, March 28

Conscience, March 28

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

1 Peter 2:17-19, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, honoring You is easy and right for You alone are worthy of our eternal love. Honoring the king, when the king is not honoring You is very difficult, from a human perspective. Thank You for teaching us that we are to be different in that regard. Our obedience to people that You have placed in authority is Your will. While we pray for their souls we must be courteous and obedient to those that enforce the laws of the land and to those You have given authority.

If we only honor the good and gentle we have not distinguished ourselves from others in the world. We are to be known by our love for You and for our neighbor and if our neighbor has been granted authority by You (You, Father are sovereign), so be it. The test is theirs.

You search our minds and our hearts. Our agenda, our thoughts and actions are bare before You. How else could You be omnipresent and omniscient if that were not true? It is true and we pray that this day You will not only be a light unto our paths but we acknowledge You as our constant companion and friend. Help us seek your counsel every moment of the day. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, February 28

Conscience, February 28

...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:15-18,21-22

Father, You have called us saints and yet our hearts convict us. Here You tell us to sanctify our hearts, an active process of cleansing and renewal by You, that in good conscience we might provide others with a good defense of our love for You in meekness and fear, avoiding arrogance or the suggestion of appearing judgmental.

If we suffer due to our witness Father, we read here that Christ also suffered, dying for the sins of each of us, that we might enter Your presence, not as sinful flesh, but made alive in the Spirit just as Jesus.

You then teach us water baptism cleanses and that it is good but it is standing before Jesus with a clear conscience, renewed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, which saves us when Jesus, who has all authority, will judge all things.

Again God, we feel so unworthy when the flesh rules our lives. Please help us to be as Jesus this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, February 2

Conscience, February 2

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar
off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my
ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it
altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold,
You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of
the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of
them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I
awake, I am still with You.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.

Psalms 139:1-10,17-18,23-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your omnipresence in our lives and world is beyond our
comprehension. We know you have none of the boundaries of the flesh and
that You created each of us. Now You teach us that You search us, You know
when we arise and lay down, You know the words on our tongues and the
thoughts of our hearts. You encompass us, Your thoughts toward us are
greater than the sand, a quantity we can not count.

Father, if we could but respond to You in the same way and give the same
consideration, attention and time back to You that You give to us, that
would keep our focus on our source of strength. We have access, all day
long, to Your wisdom and presence. Help us to respond, constantly. In Jesus
Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, December 28

Conscience, December 28

I cried out to God with my voice—to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed....
You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.

Psalms 77:1-6 www.solascriptura.com

Father, David cried out in the night, stretching his hand toward You, unable to close his eyes, meditating on the songs he had written and searching his heart.

Sometimes Father, we too are so troubled that we can not sleep. Whether it is our sin or our anxiety that distracts us, it matters not. We simply must learn to lean upon You, to yield our burdens to You. Why God do we often forget that we do not walk alone?

If we could but remember to take Your yoke upon us, for You have no burden, where ours sometimes feels unbearable. We know Father that You see our circumstance and that you have compassion for us. Relieve us we pray, of the tendency to weigh ourselves down when You are willing to lift us up.

Refresh our hearts, this day, and breathe upon us and cleanse us afresh. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, December 13

Conscience, December 13

Save me, O God! ...
I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You.
Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

Psalms 69:1, 3, 5, Proverbs 20:11-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, our sins are truly clear in our own sight. We know we do nothing in secret and that every act and thought is known to You. Help us this day to declare our need for Your cleansing and give us the power to stop making sinful mistakes. It is so hard Jesus to be as You since You are perfect and we are still here in our flesh, constantly tempted to hear, see or commit sin.

We know Father that temptation is delivered to us by Satan and that You permit the test. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit in us that we can over come that which Satan delivers, primarily targeting those who love You. We would estimate that Your joy comes from our victories and Your grief from our failures.

Your word says that even a child knows when they are wrong or right. Father, give us the pure heart of a child before You. Strengthen our will to seek Your will in our lives that we might give glory to You. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, November 28

Conscience, November 28

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other...
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts...
...I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
"I have hope in God...
"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Matthew 6:22-24, Luke 16:15, Acts 24:14-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that at which we choose to look enters into our minds and sometimes invades our hearts. Help us to simply look away from evil and not to hesitate and gaze upon that which You hate.

We know we can not serve two masters, evil and good, and that when we choose to give space in our lives to evil that You not only notice but that it actually grieves You.

Help us O'God to never disappoint You. Lead us in paths of righteousness, every moment of every day, that we might have a clear conscience. We know Father that eternity belongs to those who belong to You. Help us to be Your "Light filled" obedient and trusting children. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, November 16

Conscience, November 16

... for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
... the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

1 Corinthians 8:6-13, 1 Timothy 1:5, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You emphasize, in several places, that food and drink are gifts to us, to be enjoyed. Here You tell us that we should not let our liberty in your gifts get in the way of our witness to those who believe that certain foods are not to be eaten. We know Father of our liberty; now help us to place our witness and our love for others above our liberty.

You tell us that if we are insensitive to the needs of a weaker brother that we are sinning against You. That is a powerful reason for us to show patience when we are inclined to do otherwise. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, October 5

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 , www.solascriptura.com

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

Conscience, July 17

Conscience, July 17

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I John 3:18-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, help us this day, not to publicly portray ourselves as Your children and then privately, in our hearts, go right on thinking wrong thoughts and doing things in private that are clearly sinful, as judged by our own hearts.

It is so hard Father to be “perfect” and none of us are. You have taught us that it is the perfection of Jesus, in whom we abide, that makes us acceptable in Your sight. Teach us to meditate on Your truth, Your commandments and Your compassion for our circumstance as we move through this day. It seems a miracle Father that You would love us at all, given our sinful nature. Without the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit in us, we stand no chance of pleasing You.

Help us this day to love You with all of our hearts, mind and soul and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, August 6, 2008

Conscience, August 6, 2008

...our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God...

... as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!

2 Corinthians 1:12, 1Thes 2:4, Psalms 27:8, 14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are each so prone to boast. We even have pride in serving You. Your word tells us that You expect us to boast, but not about our fleshly achievements, but instead about how Your grace to us leads us to joyful feelings of having been Your person, this day. It is a joy to know that You love us and empower us to serve You.

Even as we tell others of our love for You and Your Holy word we see that You have entrusted us with this role, not to please men, but to pass the test of focusing on Your presence in the process. Our personal righteousness is truly as filthy rags. We seek to be covered in Your cloak yet we feel so unworthy. Help us understand that it is never our worthiness that counts, but it is Your Spirit in us that counts. May we wait upon You to lead us this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, June 23

Conscience, June 23

...Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still...
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands ...and purify your hearts...

Psalms 4:4-5, James 4:8, www.solascriptura.com

Father, as wonderful as a good night's sleep is, it is equally wonderful to know that when we awaken, too early, You are there, waiting for us to acknowledge Your presence in the affairs of our lives. We do have "agendas". Sometimes they press in on us and seem to force You out. What a grave error it is Father when we proceed as if You were not present and as if You did not care.

Drawing near to You in all circumstances and at all times is Your desire for us. You have told us that Your thoughts toward us exceed number. What a wonderful reality. Help us, this day, to respond to that truth by acknowledging Your presence and asking for Your guidance In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, June 3

Conscience, June 3

... it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 26:2, 2 Corinthians 7:1 www.solascriptura.com

Father, You, who created light in the darkness also gave us the Light that abides in us. You call it the "light of knowledge". Help us to know today that Your knowledge is in us if we would but turn to that Light within. Your Light is like a built in lie detector wherein every thought, action and vision is evaluated by You and taught to us. We are truly without excuse when we fail to turn to the Light.

You have taught us that curses, like a flying bird, do no light on people without a cause. Help us this day to be obedient to your laws and to receive blessings, not curses.

Your promises are to those who seek You. May we flee from sinful thoughts or deeds knowing that if our own heart condemns us we will have brought our own problems upon ourselves. Please perfect Your Holiness in us this day, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, May 13

Conscience, May 13

... I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that humility and contrition precede repentance and now we see that it is accompanied by sorrow, genuine sorrow for our sins. This sorrow is not the sort of sorrow the world feels about having made mistakes but it is sorrow leading to repentance and to the joy of a changed heart.

You teach us that this sorrow leads to joy, a cleansing of the spirit, a clear conscience, a zeal to serve You and a sense of no longer being guilty, having been vindicated by You Jesus. Father, we are not always successful in forgiving ourselves for our sins. We tend to forget how much You suffered for our sins, taking them upon Yourself at the Cross.

Help us, this day, to know that our sin is as separate from us as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again. If You can, after much suffering, push our sins from Your sight, surely we can acknowledge and accept that cleansing.

The Scriptures say "east from west" because once you head east you will never be headed west unless you turn around and return to your sin. Not so, if You had said "north from south", since if you go north long enough you will eventually be headed south, back to your sin. Thank You for the wisdom of Your Holy word. Keep us in it every day we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, April 20

Conscience, April 20

"This is the covenant that I will make with them...says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
... brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:16, 19-23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are so grateful that we are no longer judged by the Law. If we were to choose to remain under the Law, our sins would still be with us. For the New Covenant, we are grateful. You not only cleansed us of our sins but You then inscribed the truth on our hearts and minds, forever, and the miracle of being born again with a new purpose in life is ours if we would but love and obey.

We no longer stand outside the Holy of Holies, but we are invited behind the veil, right into Your presence and there You call us friends. Such truth is too great for us to fully comprehend.

Let us draw near to You Jesus, our High Priest and more, for cleansing, strengthening, counseling, and comfort. No one on this earth can do for us what You have already done and what You are yet able to do if we but trust and obey. The refreshment of Your cleansing water in our lives daily is like none other. You are the Living Water. Fill us afresh. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, March 28

Conscience, March 28

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

1 Peter 2:17-19, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, honoring You is easy and right for You alone are worthy of our eternal love. Honoring the king, when the king is not honoring You is very difficult, from a human perspective. Thank You for teaching us that we are to be different in that regard. Our obedience to people that You have placed in authority is Your will. While we pray for their souls we must be courteous and obedient to those that enforce the laws of the land and to those You have given authority.

If we only honor the good and gentle we have not distinguished ourselves from others in the world. We are to be known by our love for You and for our neighbor and if our neighbor has been granted authority by You (You, Father are sovereign), so be it. The test is theirs.

You search our minds and our hearts. Our agenda, our thoughts and actions are bare before You. How else could You be omnipresent and omniscient if that were not true? It is true and we pray that this day You will not only be a light unto our paths but we acknowledge You as our constant companion and friend. Help us to seek your counsel every moment of the day. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, February 28

Conscience, February 28

...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:15-18,21-22

Father, You have called us saints and yet our hearts convict us. Here You tell us to sanctify our hearts, an active process of cleansing and renewal by You, that in good conscience we might provide others with a good defense of our love for You in meekness and fear, avoiding arrogance or the suggestion of appearing judgmental.

If we suffer due to our witness Father, we read here that Christ also suffered dying for the sins of each of us that we might enter Your presence, not as sinful flesh, but made alive in the Spirit just as Jesus.

You then teach us water baptism cleanses and that it is good but it is standing before Jesus with a clear conscience, renewed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, which saves us when Jesus, who has all authority, will judge all things.

Again God, we feel so unworthy when the flesh rules our lives. Please help us to be as Jesus this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, February 2, 2009

Conscience, February 2, 2009

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar
off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my
ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it
altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold,
You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of
the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of
them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I
awake, I am still with You.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.

Psalms 139:1-10,17-18,23-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your omnipresence in our lives and world is beyond our
comprehension. We know you have none of the boundaries of the flesh and
that You created each of us. Now You teach us that You search us, You know
when we arise and lay down, You know the words on our tongues and the
thoughts of our hearts. You encompass us, Your thoughts toward us are
greater than the sand, a quantity we can not count.

Father, if we could but respond to You in the same way and give the same
consideration, attention and time back to You that You give to us, that
would keep our focus on our source of strength. We have access, all day
long, to Your wisdom and presence. Help us to respond, constantly. In Jesus
Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, January 6, 2009

Conscience, January 6, 2009

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139:1-10, 17-18, 23-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your omnipresence in our lives and world is beyond our comprehension. We know you have none of the boundaries of the flesh and that You created each of us. Now You teach us that You search us, You know when we arise and lay down, You know the words on our tongues and the thoughts of our hearts. You encompass us, Your thoughts toward us are greater than the sand, a quantity beyond counting.

Father, if we could but respond to You in the same way and give the same consideration, attention and time back to You that You give to us, that would keep our focus on our source of strength. We have access, all day long, to Your wisdom and presence. Help us to respond, constantly. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, December 28, 2008

Conscience, December 28, 2008

I cried out to God with my voice—to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed....
You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.

Psalms 77:1-6 www.solascriptura.com

Father, David cried out in the night, stretching his hand toward You, unable to close his eyes, meditating on the songs he had written and searching his heart.

Sometimes Father, we too are so troubled that we can not sleep. Whether it is our sin or our anxiety that distracts us, it matters not. We simply must learn to lean upon You, to yield our burdens to You. Why God do we often forget that we do not walk alone?

If we could but remember to take Your yoke upon us, for You have no burden, where ours sometimes feels unbearable. We know Father that You see our circumstance and that you have compassion for us. Relieve us we pray, of the tendency to weigh ourselves down when You are willing to lift us up.

Refresh our hearts, this day, and breathe upon us and cleanse us afresh. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, December 13, 2008

Conscience, December 13, 2008
Save me, O God! ...
I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You.
Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

Psalms 69:1, 3, 5, Proverbs 20:11-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, our sins are truly clear in our own sight. We know we do nothing in secret and that every act and thought is known to You. Help us this day to declare our need for Your cleansing and give us the power to stop making sinful mistakes. It is so hard Jesus to be as You since You are perfect and we are still here in our flesh, constantly tempted to hear, see or commit sin.

We know Father that temptation is delivered to us by Satan and that You permit the test. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit in us that we can over come that which Satan delivers, primarily targeting those who love You. We would estimate that Your joy comes from our victories and Your grief from our failures.

Your word says that even a child knows when they are wrong or right. Father, give us the pure heart of a child before You. Strengthen our will to seek Your will in our lives that we might give glory to You. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, November 28, 2008

Conscience, November 28, 2008

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other...
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts...
...I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
"I have hope in God...
"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Matthew 6:22-24, Luke 16:15, Acts 24:14-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that at which we choose to look enters into our minds and sometimes invades our hearts. Help us to simply look away from evil and not to hesitate and gaze upon that which You hate.

We know we can not serve two masters, evil and good, and that when we choose to give space in our lives to evil that You not only notice but that it actually grieves You.

Help us O'God never to disappoint You. Lead us in paths of righteousness, every moment of every day, that we might have a clear conscience. We know Father that eternity belongs to those who belong to You. Help us to be Your "Light filled" obedient and trusting children. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, November 16, 2008

Conscience, November 16, 2008

... for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
... the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

1 Corinthians 8:6-13, 1 Timothy 1:5, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You emphasize, in several places, that food and drink are gifts to us, to be enjoyed. Here You tell us that we should not let our liberty in your gifts get in the way of our witness to those who believe that certain foods are not to be eaten. We know Father of our liberty; now help us to place our witness and our love for others above our liberty.

You tell us that if we are insensitive to the needs of a weaker brother that we are sinning against You. That is a powerful reason for us to show patience when we are inclined to do otherwise. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, October 31, 2008

Conscience, October 31, 2008

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other...
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts...
...I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
"I have hope in God...
"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Matthew 6:22-24, Luke 16:15, Acts 24:14-16, www.solascriptura.com

Father, the world presents a great array of sinful opportunities. You have permitted Satan to tempt man in these times in bold and public ways. Help us not fall victim to "joining in" simply because everyone seems to be willfully sinning, more and more. Help us, as you did Joseph, to flee from sinful opportunities as a person truly escaping the clutches of sin.

Our flesh is disposed to sin but Your Spirit in us trumps sin if we will but call up on You. Teach us to call out, constantly, for Your Holiness in us. Give us a clear conscience before You about the events of this day, knowing that yesterday's sin, once forgiven, is as separate from You as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, October 5, 2008

Conscience, October 5, 2008

... 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 , www.solascriptura.com

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

Conscience, September 14, 2008

Conscience, September 14, 2008
Paul, the apostle, wrote: ... we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 7:14-25 , www.solascriptura.com

Father, we thank You for giving us the letters and wisdom of the apostle Paul. He has taught us that there is a perennial war experienced by every living person between the will of our flesh and Your will for us, as revealed by the new covenant, the truth that You have written upon our hearts.

Yes Father, we experience the tug of war for our souls every day and You have told us that Satan seeks to win us over to sin. Father, we are frustrated by the pressures of life where sin abounds and where we fail in our efforts to be like You Jesus. Thank You seems too trite and sometimes insincere. It is truly a miracle that You care for each us, even in our sin.

Help us this day not to give into sin as we seek to serve You and to know that it is only by the power of Your Holy Spirit in us that we (through You) can win the constant battle for our souls.

If the Apostle Paul can write and experience the words above, how can we expect any less pressure? Strengthen us we pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, August 27, 2008

Conscience, August 27, 2008

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Romans 14:1-23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, help us not to judge others but to do what is right according to the truth you have taught us. Jesus, your word says it is "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Matthew 15:11 In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, August 6, 2008

Conscience, August 6, 2008

...our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God...

... as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!

2 Corinthians 1:12, 1Thes 2:4, Psalms 27:8, 14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are each so prone to boast. We even have pride in serving You. Your word tells us that You expect us to boast, but not about our fleshly achievements, but instead about how Your grace to us leads us to joyful feelings of having been Your person, this day. It is a joy to know that You love us and empower us to serve You.

Even as we tell others of our love for You and Your Holy word we see that You have entrusted us with this role, not to please men, but to pass the test of focusing on Your presence in the process. Our personal righteousness is truly as filthy rags. We seek to be covered in Your cloak yet we feel so unworthy. Help us to know it is never our worthiness that counts, but it is Your Spirit in us that counts. May we wait upon You to lead us this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, July 17, 2008

Conscience, July 17, 2008

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I John 3:18-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, help us this day, not to publicly portray ourselves as Your children and then privately, in our hearts, go right on thinking wrong thoughts and doing things in private that are clearly sinful, as judged by our own hearts.

It is so hard Father to be "perfect" and none of us are. You have taught us that it is the perfection of Jesus, in whom we abide, that makes us acceptable in Your sight. Teach us to meditate on Your truth, Your commandments and Your compassion for our circumstance as we move through this day. It seems a miracle Father that You would love us at all, given our sinful nature. Without the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit in us, we stand no chance of pleasing You.

Help us this day to love You with all of our hearts, mind and soul and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, June 23, 2008

Conscience, June 23, 2008

...Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still...
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands ...and purify your hearts...

Psalms 4:4-5, James 4:8, www.solascriptura.com

Father, as wonderful as a good night's sleep is, it is equally wonderful to know that when we awaken, too early, You are there, waiting for us to acknowledge Your presence in the affairs of our lives. We do have "agendas". Sometimes they press in on us and seem to force You out. What a grave error it is Father when we proceed as if You were not present and as if You did not care.

Drawing near to You in all circumstances and at all times is Your desire for us. You have told us that Your thoughts toward us exceed number. What a wonderful reality. Help us, this day, to respond to that truth by acknowledging Your presence and asking for Your guidance In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, June 3, 2008

Conscience, June 3, 2008

... it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 26:2, 2 Corinthians 7:1 www.solascriptura.com

Father, You, who created light in the darkness also gave us the Light that abides in us. You call it the "light of knowledge". Help us to know today that Your knowledge is in us if we would but turn to that Light within. Your Light is like a built in lie detector wherein every thought, action and vision is evaluated by You and taught to us. We are truly without excuse when we fail to turn to the Light.

You have taught us that curses, like a flying bird, do no light on people without a cause. Help us this day to be obedient to your laws and to receive blessings, not curses.

Your promises are to those who seek You. May we flee from sinful thoughts or deeds knowing that if our own heart condemns us we will be without excuse before You. Please perfect Your Holiness in us this day, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, May 13, 2008

Conscience, May 13, 2008

... I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that humility and contrition precede repentance and now we see that it is accompanied by sorrow, genuine sorrow for our sins. This sorrow is not the sort of sorrow the world feels about having made mistakes but it is sorrow leading to repentance and to the joy of a changed heart.

You teach us that this sorrow leads to joy, a cleansing of the spirit, a clear conscience, a zeal to serve You and a sense of no longer being guilty, being vindicated by You Jesus. Father, we are not always successful in forgiving ourselves for our sins. We tend to forget how much You suffered for our sins, taking them upon Yourself at the Cross. Help us, this day, to know that our sin is as separate from us as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again. If You can, after much suffering, push our sins from Your sight, surely we can acknowledge and accept that cleansing.

The Scriptures say "east from west" because once you head east you will never be headed west unless you turn around and return to your sin. Not so, if You had said "north from south", since if you go north long enough you will eventually be headed south, back to your sin. Thank You for the wisdom of Your Holy word. Keep us in it every day we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience, April 20, 2008

Conscience, April 20, 2008

"This is the covenant that I will make with them...says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
... brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:16, 19-23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are so grateful that we are no longer judged by the Law. If we were to choose to remain under the Law, our sins would still be with us. For the New Covenant, we are grateful. You not only cleansed us of our sins but You then inscribed the truth on our hearts and minds, forever, and the miracle of being born again with a new purpose in life is ours if we would but love and obey.

We no longer stand outside the Holy of Holies, but we are invited behind the veil, right into Your presence and there You call us friends. Such truth is too great for us to fully comprehend.

Let us draw near to You Jesus, our High Priest and more, for cleansing, strengthening, counseling, and comfort. No one on this earth can do for us what You have already done and what You are yet able to do if we but trust and obey. The refreshment of Your cleansing water in our lives daily is like none other. You are the Living Water. Fill us afresh. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Conscience, March 28, 2008

Conscience, March 28, 2008

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

1 Peter 2:17-19, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, honoring You is easy and right. Honoring the king, when the king is not honoring You is very difficult, from a human perspective. Thank You for teaching us that we are to be different in that regard. Our obedience to people that You have placed in authority is Your will. While we pray for their souls we must be courteous and obedient to the laws of the land and to those You have given authority.

If we only honor the good and gentle we have not distinguished ourselves from others in the world. We are to be known by our love for You and for our neighbor and if our neighbor has been granted authority by You (You, Father are sovereign), so be it. The test is theirs.

You search our minds and our hearts. Our agenda, our thoughts and actions are bare before You. How else could You be omnipresent and omniscient if that were not true? It is true and we pray that this day You will not only be a light unto our paths but we acknowledge You as companion and friend. Help us to seek your counsel constantly. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Conscience February 28, 2008

Conscience February 28, 2008

...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:15-18,21-22

Father, You have called us saints and yet our hearts convict us. Here You tell us to sanctify our hearts, an active process of cleansing and renewal by You, that in good conscience we might provide others with a good defense of our love for You in meekness and fear, avoiding arrogance or the suggestion of appearing judgmental.

If we suffer due to our witness Father, we read here that Christ also suffered dying for the sins of each of us that we might enter Your presence, not as sinful flesh, but made alive in the Spirit just as Jesus.

You then teach us water baptism cleanses and that it is good but it is standing before Jesus with a clear conscience, renewed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, which saves us when Jesus, who has all authority, will judge all things.

Again God, we feel so unworthy when the flesh rules our lives. Please help us to be as Jesus this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Conscience #1

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139:1-10,17-18,23-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Your omnipresence in our lives and world is beyond our comprehension. We know you have none of the boundaries of the flesh and that You created each of us. Now, You teach us that You search us, You know when we arise and lay down, You know the words on our tongues and the thoughts of our hearts. You encompass us, Your thoughts toward us are greater than the sand, a quantity beyond counting.

Father, if we could but respond to You in the same way and give the same consideration, attention and time back to You that You give to us, that would keep our focus on our source of strength. We have access, all day long, to Your wisdom and presence. Help us to respond, constantly. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #2

...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

1 Pet 3:15-18,21-22

Father, You have called us saints and yet our hearts convict us. Here You tell us to sanctify our hearts, an active process of cleansing and renewal by You, that in good conscience we might provide others with a good defense of our love for You in meekness and fear, avoiding arrogance or the suggestion of appearing judgmental.

If we suffer due to our witness Father, we read here that Christ also suffered dying for the sins of each of us that we might enter Your presence, not as sinful flesh, but made alive in the Spirit just as Jesus.

You then teach us water baptism cleanses and that it is good but it is standing before Jesus with a clear conscience, renewed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, that saves us when Jesus, who has all authority, will judge all things.

Again God, we feel so unworthy when the flesh rules our lives . Please help us to be as Jesus this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #3

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

1 Peter 2:17-19, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, honoring You is easy and right. Honoring the king, when the king is not honoring You is very difficult, from a human perspective. Thank You for teaching us that we are to be different in that regard. Our obedience to people that You have placed in authority is Your will. While we pray for their souls we must be courteous and obedient to the laws of the land and to those You have given authority.

If we only honor the good and gentle we have not distinguished ourselves from others in the world. We are to be known by our love for You and for our neighbor and if our neighbor has been granted authority by You (You, Father are sovereign), so be it. The test is theirs.

You search our minds and our hearts. Our agenda, our thoughts and actions are bare before You. How else could You be omnipresent and omniscient if that were not true? It is true and we pray that this day You will not only be a light unto our paths but we acknowledge You as companion and friend. Help us to seek your counsel constantly. In Your Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #4

"This is the covenant that I will make with them...says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," ... brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:16, 19-23, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are so grateful that we are no longer judged by the Law. If we were to choose to remain under the Law, our sins would still be with us. For the New Covenant, we are grateful. You not only cleansed us of our sins but You then inscribed the truth on our hearts and minds, forever, and the miracle of being born again with a new purpose in life is ours if we would but love and obey.

We no longer stand outside the Holy of Holies, but we are invited behind the veil, right into Your presence and there You call us friends. Such truth is too great for us to fully comprehend.

Let us draw near to You Jesus, our High Priest and more, for cleansing, strengthening, counseling, and comfort. No one on this earth can do for us what You have already done and what You are yet able to do if we but trust and obey. The refreshment of Your cleansing water in our lives daily is like none other. You are the Living Water. Fill us afresh. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #5

... I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2 Corinthians 7:9-11, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have taught us that humility and contrition precede repentance and now we see that it is accompanied by sorrow, genuine sorrow for our sins. This sorrow is not the sort of sorrow the world feels about having made mistakes but it is sorrow leading to repentance and to the joy of a changed heart.

You teach us that this sorrow leads to joy, a cleansing of the spirit, a clear conscience, a zeal to serve You and a sense of no longer being guilty, being vindicated by You Jesus. Father, we are not always successful in forgiving ourselves for our sins. We tend to forget how much You suffered for our sins, taking them upon Yourself at the Cross. Help us, this day, to know that our sin is as separate from us as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again. If You can, after much suffering, push our sins from Your sight, surely we can acknowledge and accept that cleansing.

The Scriptures say "east from west" because once you head east you will never be headed west unless you turn around and return to your sin. Not so, if You had said "north from south", since if you go north long enough you will eventually be headed south, back to your sin. Thank You for the wisdom of Your Holy word. Keep us in it every day we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #6

... it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 26:2, 2 Corinthians 7:1 www.solascriptura.com

Father, You, who created light in the darkness, also gave us the Light that abides in us. You call it the light of knowledge. Help us to know today that Your knowledge is in us if we would but turn to that Light within. Your light is like a built in lie detector wherein every thought, action and vision is evaluated by You and taught to us. We are truly without excuse when we fail to turn to the Light.

You have taught us that curses, like a flying bird, do not light upon people without a cause. Help us this day to be obedient to your laws and to receive blessings, not curses.

Your promises are to those who seek You. May we flee from sinful thoughts or deeds knowing that if our own heart condemns us we will be without excuse.

Conscience #7

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I John 3:18-24, www.solascriptura.com

Father, help us this day, not to publicly portray ourselves as Your children and then privately, in our hearts, go right on thinking wrong thoughts and doing things in private that are clearly sinful, as judged by our own hearts.

It is so hard Father to be "perfect" and none of us are. You have taught us that it is the perfection of Jesus, in whom we abide, that makes us acceptable in Your sight. Teach us to meditate on Your truth, Your commandments and Your compassion for our circumstance as we move through this day. It seems a miracle Father that You would love us at all, given our sinful nature. Without the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit in us, we stand no chance of pleasing You.

Help us this day to love You with all of our hearts, mind and soul and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #8

...Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still... Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ...and purify your hearts...

Psalms 4:4-5, James 4:8, www.solascriptura.com

Father, as wonderful as a good night's sleep is, it is equally wonderful to know that when we awaken, too early, You are there, waiting for us to acknowledge Your presence in the affairs of our lives. We do have "agendas". Sometimes they press in on us and seem to force You out. What a grave error it is Father when we proceed as if You were not present and as if You did not care.

Drawing near to You in all circumstances and at all times is Your desire for us. You have told us that Your thoughts toward us exceed number. What a wonderful reality. Help us, this day, to respond to that truth by acknowledging Your presence and asking for Your guidance In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #9

...our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God...

... as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!

2 Corinthians 1:12, 1Thes 2:4, Psalms 27:8, 14, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are each so prone to boast. We even have pride in serving You. Your word tells us that You expect us to boast, but not about our fleshly achievements, but instead about how Your grace to us leads us to joyful feelings of having been Your person, this day. It is a joy to know that You love us and empower us to serve You.

Even as we tell others of our love for You and Your Holy word we see that You have entrusted us with this role, not to please men but to pass the test of focusing on Your presence in the process. Our personal righteousness is truly as filthy rags. We seek to be covered in Your cloak yet we feel so unworthy. Help us to know it is never our worthiness that counts, but it is Your Spirit in us that counts. May we wait upon You to lead us this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #10

... for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

... the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

1 Corinthians 8:6-13, 1 Timothy 1:5, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You emphasize, in several places, that food and drink are gifts to us, to be enjoyed. Here You tell us that we should not let our liberty in your gifts get in the way of our witness to those who believe that certain foods are not to be eaten. We know Father of our liberty; now help us to place our witness and our love for others above our liberty.

You tell us that if we are insensitive to the needs of a weaker brother that we are sinning against You. That is a powerful reason for us to show patience when we are inclined to do otherwise. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell

Conscience #11

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Romans 14:1-23, www.solascriptura.com



Father, help us not to judge others but to do what is right according to the truth you have taught us. Jesus, your word says it is "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Matthew 15:11 In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell