Clear Conscience

Acts 23: Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ² At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

 

⁴ Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

 

⁵ Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.

 

============

 

After telling the lie, immediately I asked myself… “What do I have to gain from this lie?” I mean, I had gotten in the habit of lying to cover myself. I was insecure about everything and I felt a lie was easier to live with. I even lied to myself.

 

There were lies I told myself to hide from the truth of my sins.

There were lies I told others to hide the fact that I was an imposter when it came to “being good.”

There were lies I told by withholding my sin and looking at everyone else’s.

 

Paul spoke directly to the church leaders and said his actions were done “in all good conscience.” This meant Paul was as open about his sin as he could be. His motive was purely based on speaking about JESUS being GOD.

 

With this, the high priest had Paul to be punched in the mouth. The high priest did not act like one of GOD’s servants, so Paul acknowledged what he had done based on the scripture.

 

GOD wants me to learn about HIM so I can live with a clear conscience.

GOD wants me to understand what true freedom means.

GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom so my conscience can remain clear.

 

Sin throws me off. I mean, when I sin, my conscience feels guilty and I look for GOD’s punishment. When I do that, it means I do not fully understand HIS grace. HE forgave me once and for all when HE said “It is finished.”  

 

Yes, there will be consequences to my sin, but knowing JESUS forgave all my sins clears my conscience. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me, guiding me away from the stronghold of sin. I may not be perfect, but I am taking a step in GOD’s direction each day.

 

What are you hiding?

Are you looking at someone else’s sins and not your own?

Will you admit your sins to others so your conscience can be clear to speak about JESUS today?

 

Not Me

Not Me

Acts 8: ⁹ But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ¹¹ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

============

“Who broke this?” was the question angrily asked to me. “Not me” I answered quickly, trying to protect myself. “Who left the window open while it was raining?” “Not me” was my go to answer that I had become good at saying. “Who cleaned up?” was asked in a delighted tone. “Me!” I said proudly as I beckoned for the credit.

• There were times when I wanted to be noticed for good thing “I” did.
• There were times when I did not want to accept responsibility for things others considered bad.
• There were times when I enjoyed the spotlight when things were going well.

Simon was a sorcerer who was able to do things people could not explain away with science. The people of Samaria held him in great esteem, as did he. But when Philip arrived and spoke about JESUS, they turned to belief in the Savior. Even Simon had to believe.

• GOD wants me to point my life to HIM.
• GOD wants me to give GOD all the credit.
• GOD wants me to claim that HE is the only one who is great.

“Not me” are great words to use when it comes to GOD. “Who saved me?” “Not me” will be the answer, because JESUS did that. “Who gave me gifts and talents?” “Not me” is the answer again, for all my abilities come from HIM.

GOD gave me everything I have and placed me in places I am amazed at. HE is my provider, protector and pursuer. I am grateful HE goes after me when I run away from HIM.

• Are you trying to get likes and congratulations from people?
• Do you seek public affirmation for what “you” do?
• Will you start giving GOD credit for your gifts and talents so people will believe in JESUS today?

Underestimating GOD

1 Kings 19: ¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

============

With the announcement of the birth of my children, excitement turned into fear as I watched the world’s moral fabric rip apart. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone left to protect my kids from the world” I thought to myself. “How will they survive?”

Years later I realized I wasn’t the only person who believed in GOD. In fact I found out that I had grossly underestimated GOD’s marvelous power in their lives and everywhere we went.

• When I think too highly of my righteousness I underestimate GOD’s.
• When I think I am the only one who is righteous I fail to see GOD’s power.
• When I think everything is out of control I cannot see GOD’s sovereignty.

GOD is awesome and is not worried about the world today. HIS power is far above anything that’s going on and HE is concerned about every aspect of my life and others.

Can you put your trust in GOD today?

The danger of pointing at myself

Deuteronomy 13 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, ² and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” ³ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. 

The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 

============

“Why am I not getting promoted?” I asked a mentor. He said, “You need to learn the art of self-promotion.” It’s when I tell people how great I am without looking like a braggart. I tried it and it worked! In fact it worked so well that I used it when speaking about “church” not GOD. 

I promoted “churches” and eventually the positions I held within them. Soon people were looking at me. I was now an icon. Now I couldn’t tell people about my sins, people would be so disappointed!

• My desire to be promoted may spill into other areas of my life.
• My desire to be noticed may make me do things contrary to what I’m supposed to be doing.
• My desire to be in the spotlight may take the stage away from the being who is supposed to have it.

Please don’t get me wrong… it is perfectly fine to let people know accomplishments and to be excited about how GOD is blessing me, but my motive has to be carefully examined to see if “I” need to tell people or should this wonderful situation remain between me and GOD.

Angels have incredible power, yet when John tried to bow to one of them the angel immediately stopped him and pointed to GOD. The angel knew something very important.

• All blessings come from GOD.
• All eyes should be on GOD not on me in any way.
• All thanks and praise should go to HIM not me.

It’s nice to hear when I am doing a good job. Who wouldn’t want to hear it? BUT GOD requires that I point the people to HIM so HE can give me my reward instead of stealing HIS light.

• Are you following a human?
• Are you trying to get humans to follow you?
• Can you place GOD above all humans, even yourself?
• Won’t you stop promoting the thing that is less than GOD and point people to HIM again?

I can’t take credit for my abilities

Genesis 41: ¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

¹⁶ “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

============

Don’t ask me why I did this but I prayed that I would be successful in my career. I had stopped praying or it was seldom and now I was out in the real world. Amazing things happened over the years and I saw GOD working.

Then I started taking credit for my abilities. “I deserve that promotion!” I thought to myself. “Maybe I should quit and show them they can’t function without me!”

When I think I did something on my own I get arrogant.

When I think my abilities are from my hard work I become blind.

When I think I have talent that is superior I am highly mistaken.

I love the term Joseph used “I cannot do it, BUT GOD will…” Joseph recognized his limitations and acknowledged GOD’s power. He had no expectations of GOD rather he pointed his faith toward HIS power.

When I give GOD credit for giving me talent, I use them for HIS purposes.

When I give GOD credit for making me who I am then I will be thankful for where HE takes me.

When I give GOD credit for my abilities then I won’t squander them.

I cannot do anything without GOD.  HE is my power and my guide. No plan will prosper without HIS blessing.

Do you think you acquired your talent on your own?

Do you believe you have raw talent?

Can you recognize where your talents come from?

Won’t you give GOD credit for blessing you with abilities that you alone possess for HIS purpose?

Am I special?

Genesis 1: ²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

-------

³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

============

Sitting on the bus I noticed some girls staring in my direction. As I observed a little closer I noticed they were looking past me staring at my friend. “Why didn’t I have a pretty face?” Then I started noticing other people doing better in other things. Why are they better or stronger or smarter? I didn’t feel like I was made in GOD’s image.

• When I see myself as a mess I’m not seeing how GOD made me.
• When I see myself as a problem I’m not seeing how GOD made me.
• When I see myself as useless I’m not seeing how GOD made me.

I have complained to GOD in the past.  “Why did you make me this way?” as if I had a better idea of how HE should have made me. It basically boils down to me trying to get my way and then I complain that GOD made me wrong because I’m not getting my way.

• GOD made me the way I am and HE said it was very good.
• GOD made me with a purpose and that purpose was good.
• GOD made me and knows my flaws so HE rescued me through HIS SON.

 

I guess I’m a little hard on myself. If GOD thinks I’m very good the way HE made me, who am I to argue?

• Are you feeling a little low?
• Do you think you don’t have a purpose?
• Can you stop looking at yourself through sinful eyes and see how GOD wants you to be seen?
• Won’t you recognize that GOD made you special and with a purpose?

Going with the corwd

Galatians 1: ¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

============

Laughter was the reaction from the crowd the first time I used foul language. That soon became a habit. Enjoyment was the reaction of the crowd as I played games instead of going to class. That soon became a habit. Being known for our parties caused our phone to ring constantly. That soon became a habit.

Everyone was pleased with what I was doing, but was I doing the right things?

• I can always find a crowd of people who support my sin.
• When I start sinning it is difficult to stop because the crowd will cheer me on.
• If I seek human approval I will find it in the wrong places.

My fear was being labeled as being “boring.” I mean I didn’t want to become a hardened criminal but I certainly didn’t want to be labeled as a “Goody, goody” because they finish “last,” don’t they?

• GOD knows the world will hate me for trying to follow HIM.
• GOD knows I will be ridiculed for saying JESUS in public.
• GOD knows I will not be popular for taking a stand for HIS ways but has assured me HIS way is the only way.

The crowd would have me doing things that are not pleasing to GOD. It’s not like I don’t have enough sin of my own. The crowd doesn’t want me to stand for GOD but let people remain in their sin. The crowd says “Who are you to judge, everyone sins especially you.”

Yes, I sin and GOD forgives me daily. HE provides me with hope and has called me to give that same hope to others but they must “confess those sins” and “HE will be faithful and just to forgive those sins and cleanse all unrighteousness.”

Pleasing GOD sometimes means pleasing people but always points to HIM.

• Are you trying to follow the crowd?
• Are you hiding your relationship with JESUS because of your title or the crowd you hang with?
• Are you ashamed to let people know you follow GOD?
• Can you stop trying to please people and learn to follow GOD?

I declare myself the winner!

2 Corinthians 10: ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 18 

============

Sitting at the traffic light with my eyes fixed on the red, I prepared to hit the gas the moment the light changed. Of course the driver in the lane next to me didn’t even know they were in a race. Every once in a while my minivan full of people would run up against a person in a sports car who was aware of my tactics leaving me in a cloud of dust. I couldn’t declare myself the winner that time!

• When I think I am better than I am I fall on my face.
• When I believe I am better than other people reality brings me back down to earth.
• When I perceive my performance is better than it actually is then I open myself up for some harsh criticism.

I can rationalize myself to be better than “that” person or “those” people over there simply by setting a goal only I know or comparing myself to people who aren’t doing the things I’m doing. I hand pick my competition and wallop them without them knowing declaring myself “winner.” Then I boast about my achievement.

• GOD enjoys when I point people to HIM and not on my self-declared status.
• GOD loves when I point people to HIM and not on my self-declared accomplishments.
• GOD elates when I point people to HIM and not on my self-declared righteousness.

All that I accomplish needs to be credited to GOD. HE needs to be the one who says “well done my good and faithful servant” based on how I treat others. HE looks at my thoughts and attitude and can easily discern my motives. My bragging should be that GOD is the only one who is “good” and all I have achieved comes from HIM.

• Are you comparing yourself to someone?
• Are you busy looking at your accomplishments thinking you are “good” or “bad?”
• Can you stop comparing and just live for CHRIST at least for today?
• Won’t you brag about what GOD is doing for you instead of trying to be noticed?

Loving GOD, HIS way or mine?

John 21: ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

============

Waiting has been a weakness of mine since “forever.” I mean what was taking them so long? I interviewed with the top executives and the decision should have been clear “I was the man.” Weeks after they told me I wasn’t the man, I walked around work pouting. I even pouted at GOD.

“LORD, why do YOU do things like this?” “Why do YOU put things in front of my face only to snatch them away?” “I don’t feel like serving YOU anymore.” Uh oh, what was I saying?!

• Just because I have served GOD in the past, I still need to grow.
• Just because I have grown a little, I still have a lot of growing to do.
• Just because I have seen a little fruit to my faith, I still need my faith to be strengthened.

Sometimes I think I have “arrived,” in other words I think I have learned all the lessons “I” need to learn, now it’s everyone else’s turn. This is definitely the wrong attitude. GOD shows me my flaws daily so I won’t get my head too puffed up with confidence in myself.  Don’t get me wrong, my self-esteem is fine, probably a little too fine!

• My confidence needs to be aimed at GOD not in me.
• My worthiness only comes through belief in JESUS as being GOD, not in the things I do.
• My judgment need only be directed at me enabling GOD to work on others without my interference.

Loving GOD HIS way means “feeding HIS sheep.” The only way to do this is to have the right attitude.

• Do you love GOD?
• What are you doing to serve HIM?
• Are you trying to love GOD your way or HIS way?
• What would be the answer if GOD asked you “do you love ME?”
• Are you willing to feed HIS lambs, in other words serve people?

GOD wants “you” just the way you are.

John 1: ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

 ⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

   “Come and see,” said Philip.

============

My house where I grew up was pretty average but it was light years ahead of where my parents grew up. In fact compared to where they grew up our house was a palatial estate. The school I attended did not crank out graduates who went on to become Pulitzer prize winners but it was fine for me.

Our neighborhood was not on the news for having sent anyone into space or for having someone develop a new radical way to build skyscrapers. So how can anything “good” come out of my neighborhood?

• I have looked down on those who I considered “less fortunate.”
• I have categorized others as being poor and dirty so therefore they must not be intelligent enough to get themselves out of “the mess they are in.”
• I have avoided people who did not look like me or act like me and put people into large buckets.

It’s funny, how I treated others was how I was being treated. The people of wealth could care less about me or my neighborhood, BUT GOD cares.

• GOD made me unique.
• GOD gave me specific, special abilities.
• GOD made me in a way that I and I alone can reach a specific group of people HE sent to me.
• GOD doesn’t care where I came from but HE is concerned about where I am going.

Since the beginning of time GOD has used the highly underestimated. HE took weak, feeble, uneducated people and made them stand above kings and those who are extremely credentialed. GOD makes fools of the arrogant, self-proclaimed genius by favoring the humble and the meek.

Can anything good come from my neighborhood? Yes! Anyone who is GOD’s child is extremely gifted and talented just the way HE made them.  In fact when I think someone is stupid I’m actually calling GOD stupid for making them the way they are. GOD wants me to believe I can do HIS work just as I am and HE wants me to accept others “just as they are.”

• Are you trying to change “that” person?
• Do you consider yourself special?
• Can you realize GOD made you specifically to reach a person only “you” can reach?