September 20, 1998, Sunday

Have you ever wondered what your calling in life is? Do you

think you should protect your conscience? Actually where did

your conscience come from?

Paul prayed for those that would hear his message of hope

and encouragement, and would listen to God's call to them:

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

in order that you may know the hope to which He has called

you and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints"

(Eph 1:18). God continues to call all people today.

Paul wrote to Timothy to warn him not to listen to teachers of

false doctrines and those that went against his conscience. The

purpose was not to keep Timothy from having an open mind or

learning new things, but to protect his faith and conscience:

"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure

heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5).

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he continued to warn him

to set himself apart and protect his conscience before God:

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness,

faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the

Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Tim 2:22). Actually

the Holy Spirit is our conscience that warns us of evil,

and there is only one procedure to remove the guilt.

Let us remember who is the God that sanctifies us as a

holy people. God's name is Jehová Mekaddesh, He is the

Lord that sanctifies His people. The Psalmist prayed to

a holy God: "Hear my cry for mercy as I call to You for

help, as I lift up my hands toward Your Most Holy Place"

(Psa 28:2). Lift your hands to Him and Praise Him today

for the fact that He is the merciful God that sanctifies us!