So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:16
Conscience is the inner part of a person that knows whether a person is doing the right thing or the wrong thing. The conscience has a major part in a person’s life when things are said, done, or thought that no one else can see or hear.
People often have thoughts about others or do actions behind closed doors, thinking no one see or cares. However, their conscience will bother them, because they know themselves what they did. Some will ignore their conscience to the point of being able to do wrong with no sorrow.
Paul was being tried for stirring up trouble. As he begins his argument, he tells the leaders that he strives to keep a clear conscience before both God and man.
Those in the world strive only to please themselves. They want to make themselves happy no matter what, not always caring about other people.
Believers are different in that they are out to please God and in the process build others up. In pleasing God, they will do what it takes to build others up. This includes in both in their thoughts and their actions, both in person and away from others.
The believer also knows in his spirit or conscience when he is doing the right thing or the wrong thing. His goal is to keep that conscience clear before God and man, always doing the right thing, whether in thought, words or actions. His goal is to please God, which also means he will always do right to every person.
The only way for a person to do this is to strive to flee all sin and to do what God has called him to do at all times. He knows that God knows what he has done and what is in his heart. When God is pleased, his heart will have a clear conscience.
God sees and knows all of your thoughts and actions. As He sees these things, what will He see? Will it be a person who is striving to live like Jesus? Or will it be one who is living like the world?
As you seek yourself, your spirit or conscience knows the truth to those questions. Do you have a clear conscience before God and man that you are always striving to do what is right?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will do what is right before God; that you will live and speak as Jesus lived and spoke; that you will repent of all sin before God; and that you will obey God in every area of your life.
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