November 11, 2020
In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. (Acts 24:16)
Your conscience is your "self-knower." It is that intangible part of you that helps you know where you are spiritually, both before God and others.
If we violate what is right, our conscience tells us. As a believer, this is the Holy Spirit’s work in us called “conviction.” This is a wonderful provision by God, unless we have so violated over the years that our conscience is "seared" i.e., it has become hardened and scarred and unable to function properly.
TWO DIRECTIONS
Paul worked hard (he “exercised himself”) at making sure there was nothing between him and God nor between him and others. He had a good conscience in two directions, both vertically and horizontally.
This meant that as he realized there was something he had done that was wrong, he would get honest and confess those issues to God (see Psalm 51 for David’s confession after he sinned with Bathsheba). But, he would also go to any person that had been hurt and clear his conscience (see Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 5:21-24).
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS
Your Spirit-informed conscience is designed, like pain to the human body, to awaken you to something that is wrong and then lead you to make adjustments. If you ignore it, not only will you suffer, but you will hurt others also.
Make it your ambition to always maintain a clear conscience with God and man. It is one of the most important spiritual responses of the mature believer.
Father, thank You that You have provided a way to show me when I get off the path. Help me to listen well and adjust quickly. Give me the courage to humble myself quickly before You and others.
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