THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:14-20
“Herod said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!'” (Mark 6:14-16)
I have found through experience that a guilty conscience agitates the mind.
You become paranoid that others may know or find out.
Herod is flustered; he thought he had silenced guilt by killing John.
The Spirit of God is speaking to his conscience, setting him on edge.
The conscience is God’s Voice in our heart and mind, calling us back to Him.
But do we listen to His Voice in our conscience, and respond appropriately?
Paul speaks about consciences seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2).
These are people who have cauterized their conscience into insensitivity.
They ignore the warnings of guilt, and they refuse God’s call to return.
No matter how many signs, warnings or blessings God sends, they reject them.
As Jesus followers, we have heard and responded to God’s Voice in our heart.
This does not make us sinless but MORE aware of our guilt and shame.
Our conscience is a gift, and we ignore it to our own peril.
Is Jesus ‘haunting’ you about something, and if so, how are you responding?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, Your presence is only scary if I have something to hide. Help me not to silence Your Voice in my conscience, but to seek it and respond wisely!
The voice within – our conscience. Remember the Voice saying- ‘This is the Way. Walk in it?’ That voice continues its work for all people discerning right from wrong and when they continue to do the wrong, the hearts become hard – like that of pharaoh of old – listening to his own way.
Herod liked to listen to John and yet whose voice did he listen to?
As in all things I must listen to the God’s voice and not man’s telling me, showing me, directing me in the way I need to go.
Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way;
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.