According to psychologists, "About one in twenty-five individuals are sociopathic, meaning, essentially, that they do not have a conscience" (Martha Stout, Ph.D., The Sociopath Next Door. 9).

Conscience when guided by truth is a witness to ourselves of our own guilt or innocence (Romans 9:1-2). It's like a thermostat in your house. If the thermostat works and you set it right, it will keep the temperature in your house comfortable. If your conscience works and is set by the word of God, it can tell you whether you're innocent or guilty.

Your conscience can be useless if you accept a false standard (Acts 23:1; 26:9; 1 Timothy 1:15), if it is too weak (1 Corinthians 8:7, 10), or if it is seared by being constantly violated (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

Each of us should strive to keep his conscience blameless (Acts 24:16). You can keep your conscience blameless by having it cleansed by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:13-14) when you're baptized into Christ (Hebrews 10:22), by repenting and praying for forgiveness if you sin (Acts 8:22), by properly educating your conscience (Hebrews 5:12-14), and by heeding it (Acts 24:16).

You may properly rejoice if you have such a pure conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12).

- Meditate On These Things, June, 2013