La conscience : un cadran solaire

Je n’ai rien sur la conscience ; mais, pour autant, je ne suis pas justifié : celui qui me juge, c’est le Seigneur. 1 Corinthiens 4. 4

Ce qui manifeste tout, c’est la lumière. Éphésiens 5. 13
 

On a comparé la conscience naturelle à un cadran solaire qui, éclairé par le soleil, indique l’heure au passant. Avant notre conversion au Christ, notre conscience ne nous donne pas d’indications fiables, car elle se trouve dans le brouillard : notre culture ou les opinions de notre entourage peuvent tromper notre conscience sur ce que sont le bien et le mal. On prête cette boutade à un chef d’État : “Ma conscience est assez bonne fille pour me dire ce que je lui demande”.

Le soleil qui illumine le cadran solaire d’un croyant, c’est la Parole de Dieu, reçue et comprise par le moyen du Saint Esprit. Il faut appliquer cette Parole aux situations dans lesquelles nous nous trouvons pour que notre conscience s’affine et se précise. Celle-ci doit toujours laisser la lumière de la Parole arriver sur elle : lumière vivante, pénétrante, discernant les pensées et les intentions du cœur (Hébreux 4. 12).

L’apôtre Paul déclare qu’il n’est pas justifié par sa bonne conscience : celle-ci n’est pas un instrument qui donne une mesure absolue, et tout apôtre qu’il fût, il ne s’y fiait pas entièrement, en reconnaissant que Dieu seul est juge.

Il peut malheureusement arriver que, comme un nuage cache le soleil, un mauvais désir ou une rancune qu’on laisse se développer annule tout sentiment du bien et du mal. Veillons donc sur l’état de notre cœur et de notre conscience en laissant la lumière de Dieu nous éclairer par le moyen de sa Parole.

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Wisdom and Understanding

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

Gracious God, help me to grow in Your wisdom.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

In 1373, when Julian of Norwich was thirty years old, she became ill and nearly died. When her minister prayed with her, she experienced a number of visions in which she considered Jesus’ crucifixion. After miraculously recovering her health, she spent the next twenty years living in solitude in a side room of the church, praying over and thinking through the experience. She concluded that “love was his meaning”; that is, that Christ’s sacrifice is the supreme manifestation of God’s love.

Julian’s revelations are famous, but what people often overlook is the time and effort she spent prayerfully working out what God revealed to her. In those two decades, she sought to discern what this experience of His presence meant as she asked Him for His wisdom and help.

As He did with Julian, God graciously reveals Himself to His people, such as through the words of the Bible; through His still, small voice; through a refrain of a hymn; or even just an awareness of His presence. When this happens, we can seek His wisdom and help. This wisdom is what King Solomon instructed his son to pursue, saying he should turn his ear to wisdom and apply his heart to understanding (Proverbs 2:2). Then he would “find the knowledge of God” (v. 5).

God promises to give us discernment and understanding. As we grow in a deeper knowledge of His character and ways, we can honor and understand Him more.

By:  Amy Boucher Pye

Reflect & Pray

How does God reveal Himself to you most often? When He does, how do you come to understand what He’s revealed?