SCRIPTURE:
With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
Romans 9:1
OBSERVATION:
When we come to know Christ, we often confuse the Holy Spirit with our conscience. Both appear to us as voices in our minds. Both help us to process through current situations. Both seem to guide us toward a better future. So we assume that when we say “Yes!” to Jesus, that our conscience transforms into the Holy Spirit. But believing so is a critical mistake––for your conscience does not become the Holy Spirit; it remains as a distinct entity separate from the Holy Spirit.
As Paul writes in Romans 9:1 NLT, “my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.” Here, your conscience and the Holy Spirit are described as two separate and distinct entities. Which leaves the question of, “what’s the difference between them?” Let’s define them. Your conscience is your inner voice that originates from you. The Holy Spirit is the voice of God living within you, but is not of you. Your conscience is your moral compass; the Holy Spirit, among other things, is God’s moral compass. And while both may agree at times, both are not the same––for while the Holy Spirit is always right, your conscience can be wrong. Why? Because your conscience is rooted in your flesh.
As long as you live, your flesh will always be at odds with God’s Spirit. As Paul writes in Romans 8:5-7 NLT, “5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.”
APPLICATION:
The reason why your conscience has improved is not because it has become the Holy Spirit; it’s because the Holy Spirit has sanctified your conscience into becoming more like Him. Don’t confuse transformation with sanctification. Your conscience did not transform into the Holy Spirit; it has been sanctified into becoming more like the Holy Spirit. This is the goal of the Christian life: to become more like Christ. To deny your flesh and conform your moral compass to the will of Christ.
If you follow Christ, obey His will, and worship Him with all your heart, your conscience should begin to sound more like Him. However, be careful to keep the distinction between your compass and the Holy Spirit. Don’t listen to your inner voice; listen to God’s still small voice. For although your conscience should sound more like God, it will still fail you because it remains rooted in your flesh. The Holy Spirit––the presence, power, and voice of God in your life––will never fail you, for He is always perfect, always loving, and always good.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit,
Thank You for remaining in me. As I remain in You, continue to give me wisdom, discernment, and knowledge to live as You desire me to live and to become more like Christ. Sanctify me, mold my conscience towards the mind of Christ, and guide me all the days of my life. May Your voice be louder than my inner voice and all other voices trying to gain my attention. I belong to You alone, I listen to You alone, and I love You alone. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
