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When I was in third grade, my best friend “borrowed some buckeyes” from the science cabinet in the back of our classroom. Because we were best friends, he shared them with me. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t look at the teacher. I couldn’t face my parents because they had taught me not to steal. I ended up confessing that I had some of the buckeyes because someone had given them to me. It was a pretty lame story, but the teacher didn’t press it. I didn’t care; my conscience was clear.
As parents one of our goals is that our children will make right decisions when we are not present. The key to this is the training of the conscience. Conscience is the sense of right and wrong that governs a person’s thoughts and actions. Our consciences are developed within a context of culture, and the family is the most powerful and significant force in any culture.
It is important that we teach the truth to our children. Without a correct sense of right and wrong, our children are subject to the ever changing and corrupt values that are portrayed in society. When God created the nation of Israel after their deliverance from Egypt, He gave them the Ten Commandments to begin to build into them a new conscience and culture. Those Ten Commandments are a good place for anyone to start building a conscience.
In Paul’s letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:5 and 3:9), Paul declares that a conscience can be good and clean.
There are other scriptures that mark a downward spiral of the conscience.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 mentions that the conscience is weak and can become defiled.
- Hebrews 10:22 describes a conscience that is guilty and therefore evil.
- 1 Timothy 4:2 warns that a conscience can become seared, obviously through continual and unconfessed wrongdoing.
- Isaiah 5:20 describes the condition of people who call right wrong and wrong right, who call light dark and dark light. Apparently, they have corrupted their consciences until they no longer are sensitive.
On the other hand, we have a great opportunity to raise children who have a strong sense of right and wrong, who stand for right, who side with Jesus Christ. Let's guard our own consciences for the sake of those little ones who are watching us.
Share a comment with us about an incident that shaped your conscience.
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2 comments:
Oh this is an easy one! I was in 5th grade and I got in trouble for throwing paper when the teacher stepped out of the room. True, others were doing it too and I was just throwing it back at my best friend, but as God always seemed to have it happen, she stepped back in just in time to catch ME! I was sent to the principal's office and I cried all afternoon. I didn't tell my mother for 3 days. Finally, she asked me what was wrong - I had been acting so down! I burst into tears and told her the whole story, to which she replied - "I've known since the day it happened. I was just waiting on you to tell me the truth." Then I got a big hug. Did it make an impression? Well, since that was over 40 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday, I'd say it did!
Donna
anotherbattlewon.blogspot.com
Everyone has a story - Once in a moment of youthful indiscretion I pulled a double whammy. I was six. We were in the grocery store and I asked for some gum.
My mother's reply was, "No! I mean NO!"
I took it anyway, and without paying for it. As soon as I got home, I headed for the closet, gum in hand.
Although it was very dark in that closet, I managed to get every stick of that Juicy Fruit into my mouth.
We ate dinner, took baths and went on to bed. However, no sleep for Little Nicky Maisel.
The next morning I couldn't take it any longer. I confessed to taking the gum.
Within fifteen minutes I was marched into the neighborhood Jitney Jungle with my mom close behind. Lucky for me the manager was standing there at the front of the store.
I had to appologize and pay for the gum with pennies I had found in my room.
Although at this time, we were not Believers, I still knew what I had done was wrong - and it bothered me until I "spilled the beans".
Embarrassed but free.
I often wondered just how the manager knew to stand at the front... Later I found out that my mother had called before we left the house.
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