Clear Conscience

Acts 24:16 Amplified
“…I also do my best and strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men.”

In appears that many in main stream society, a conscience has no bearing on life, thoughts, words or deeds. Paul said there are those who it appears that their conscience has been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:2) Paul reminds Timothy of the people he would face in ministry much less those who are worldly without God.

Psychologists say: “The concept of “conscience”, as commonly used in its moral sense, is the inherent ability of every healthy human being to perceive what is right and what is wrong and, on the strength of this perception, to control, monitor, evaluate and execute their actions.” Just in that realm we can see the world is out of control and their consciences for the greater part have been seared, fried, and trampled on.

Our conscience is a God-given capacity for us to exercise self-evaluation. The conscience is a value system. An immature or weak value system produces a weak conscience, while a fully informed value system produces a strong sense of right and wrong. For those who know God, our consciences are driven by the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

Paul says. “I also do my best and strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men.” Obviously, after obtaining morals, standards and values, we have to put them into practice.

Paul’s example shows us it takes personal effort to “do my (our) best and strive always to have a clear conscience.” The Holy Spirit can promt us to follow God’s values, the effort has to be ours to do our best and strive to do the right thing.

Prayer:
Father, You deposited Your Holy Spirit within me, You taught me Your will, laws and precepts. Strengthen my resolve to pay attention to my conscience that You have provided in me. In Jesus name, amen