June 7, 2019 A GOOD CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 13:18, 20-21 “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Verse 18 would be a good verse to put on our refrigerator or on the dash of our car-or even better, on our heart- to serve as a reminder and a motivation to live in such a way that we have a good conscience, and to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. The Holy Spirit living in us enables us to do just that; however, it does not happen automatically. God has designed it in such a way that as believers, we have the power of choice; the Holy Spirit guides us, draws us, and convicts us, but does not force us to follow Him. Ephesians 4:30 amplifies this truth: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” One thing for sure-we have all done things that were wrong, resulting in a ‘bad’ conscience. In those times that we have had a bad conscience because of some action or inaction on our part, we see clearly the great value of a good conscience. The good news is that no matter of our past, we can today live with a good conscience because when we are honest with God, when we confess any faults or sins that we may be guilty of, God forgives us and cleanses us, making us pure. The very act of confessing to God is doing the right thing and when we do, we immediately sense His cleansing. It is a good day when we purpose to conduct ourselves honorably in all things-and we can do just that. Even if, for example we wronged someone, it is an ‘honorable’ act to ask their forgiveness; it’s not about perfection on our part, but about doing things in a way that pleases God, and that is honorable in His sight. God has equipped us in everything to do His will; there is no place, no circumstance, and no time that we cannot do His will. To conduct ourselves ‘honorably in all things’ is not limited to how we relate to others, it also includes how we manage our thought life. When we dwell on improper and unhealthy thoughts, our conscience becomes defiled. If one continues to dwell on wrong thoughts and continues to live in a way contrary to the ways of God, his conscience becomes seared. 1 Timothy 4:2. As believers, God has enabled us to ‘conduct ourselves honorably in all things’ and the result is that we enjoy a good conscience. Even when we falter or sin, we can confess it, be forgiven, and return to being honorable in all we do and regain a good conscience. God has ‘equipped us in every good thing to do His will’-we do not lack anything because His Spirit lives in us. Let us be about what He has for us and live is such a way that He is pleased and enjoy the blessings of a good conscience.
Acts 24:16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”
Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Hebrews 13:18, 20-21 “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Verse 18 would be a good verse to put on our refrigerator or on the dash of our car-or even better, on our heart- to serve as a reminder and a motivation to live in such a way that we have a good conscience, and to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. The Holy Spirit living in us enables us to do just that; however, it does not happen automatically. God has designed it in such a way that as believers, we have the power of choice; the Holy Spirit guides us, draws us, and convicts us, but does not force us to follow Him. Ephesians 4:30 amplifies this truth: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” One thing for sure-we have all done things that were wrong, resulting in a ‘bad’ conscience. In those times that we have had a bad conscience because of some action or inaction on our part, we see clearly the great value of a good conscience. The good news is that no matter of our past, we can today live with a good conscience because when we are honest with God, when we confess any faults or sins that we may be guilty of, God forgives us and cleanses us, making us pure. The very act of confessing to God is doing the right thing and when we do, we immediately sense His cleansing. It is a good day when we purpose to conduct ourselves honorably in all things-and we can do just that. Even if, for example we wronged someone, it is an ‘honorable’ act to ask their forgiveness; it’s not about perfection on our part, but about doing things in a way that pleases God, and that is honorable in His sight. God has equipped us in everything to do His will; there is no place, no circumstance, and no time that we cannot do His will. To conduct ourselves ‘honorably in all things’ is not limited to how we relate to others, it also includes how we manage our thought life. When we dwell on improper and unhealthy thoughts, our conscience becomes defiled. If one continues to dwell on wrong thoughts and continues to live in a way contrary to the ways of God, his conscience becomes seared. 1 Timothy 4:2. As believers, God has enabled us to ‘conduct ourselves honorably in all things’ and the result is that we enjoy a good conscience. Even when we falter or sin, we can confess it, be forgiven, and return to being honorable in all we do and regain a good conscience. God has ‘equipped us in every good thing to do His will’-we do not lack anything because His Spirit lives in us. Let us be about what He has for us and live is such a way that He is pleased and enjoy the blessings of a good conscience.
Acts 24:16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”
Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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