Promise for Today - A Clear Conscience

...Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:15 (NLT).

Have you noticed that a jeweler will always put diamonds on black velvet when showing them to a customer? That’s because they shine brighter against a black backdrop. In the same way, as cultures crumble and the world becomes darker and darker, Christians can shine brighter and brighter. You’re made to live with such integrity and authenticity that when people look at you, they see a difference. They see a joy that comes from having a clear conscience.

You might say, “I’d like to be happy, but how do I keep my conscience clear when it’s not clear right now?” The Living Bible paraphrase gives the answer: “What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record” (Psalm 32:1-2).

Happiness, joy, and relief are three things everybody’s looking for in life. We all want to be happy. We all want to enjoy life. We all want relief from our pain. The Bible says we get those things through purity, and purity comes from forgiveness through God’s grace.

So how do we keep a pure, clear conscience?

At the beginning and the end of every day, do a spiritual inventory. Talk to God about anything that is standing between you and him—and then deal with the junk from your day. Ask forgiveness. The Bible tells us when we confess our sins, “he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Feeling guilty or ashamed can cause you to lose your happiness. So if you want to be happy, you’ve got to get rid of guilt and maintain a clear conscience—because you can’t feel guilty and be happy at the same time.

Talk It Over

What do you need to talk to God about today so that you can clear your conscience?

How can you restructure your life to make time each day for a spiritual inventory?

How are you living as a “bright light” in the world for Jesus Christ? What does your happiness in Christ say to the rest of the world?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         Create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Cleanse our hearts from all impurity, selfishness, deceit, and pride that may have taken root. Help us to delight in truth and to love others with a pure heart. Transform our minds to focus on what is good, and let our lives reflect Your love and grace. Let Your light so shine through us to those around us that they may see the good works and glorify You, according to Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

God-given

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12

One of the main things that we, as Christians, struggle with is thoughts of our past mistakes and sins. The enemy of our soul uses them against us to try to trip us up in our daily endeavor to follow Christ and to walk holy before Him. What we must do is embrace the Word of God and BELIEVE it.

If we have asked forgiveness for our sins, they are under the redemptive blood of Christ. Forever blotted out. Leave them there.

Before the Damascus Road intervention by Christ, Saul (turned Paul) arrested and imprisoned Christians, helped to stone them, and his actions were sanctioned by the Jewish leaders. If anyone could've been plagued by the guilt of his past, Paul would certainly have every reason. However, he believed the Word of the Lord. We use Paul's words inspired by the Holy Spirit to teach others how to live their new life in Christ - free from the guilt of their past.

Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Satan remembers, and we remember, but God chooses NOT to remember. How did Jesus combat the enemy? His response was always, "It is written..." and we should do the same! But we must know it in order to use it. In Hebrews 8:12 NLT, it is written, [God speaking] ...I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins. [emphasis mine]

In 2nd Corinthians 1:12, Paul writes, We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. It's only when we try to live life as though we can somehow earn our holiness that we truly struggle and cannot attain or maintain a clear conscience. As Paul writes, it is a God-given holiness fully dependent on God's grace.

It is not our works or our good acts that earn us salvation or a place in heaven. In Ephesians 2, it is written, God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. And why does He do this? If we continue in verse 10 we discover why, For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Breathe that in. Let it settle in your spirit. Let it clear your conscience. It's not on you. It's all God-given.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for Your grace and for the God-given holiness You have given us. Thank You for providing a way for us to have a clear conscience. Forgive us for trying to do things on our own; for even unconsciously thinking that we could possibly earn holiness by our own actions. Give us wisdom, O God. Help us to understand and embrace the living, breathing truths of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen