Acts 24 - Clear Conscience

This chapter can be a little deceptive. What I mean, in 27 verses, we read Paul on trial and waiting on some witnesses that have been called to testify. But in the closing verse, in just five words, we read When two years had passed.  Whoa, these interactions and conversations between Paul and Felix and his wife Drusilla were going on for two years. 

I have so much to process around this, but something else leaped off the screen as I was reading that I want to dive into. In the middle of Paul defending himself before the governor, the court, and many Jews who are leveling these accusations, Paul says something that is hitting me. Check this out;

“However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭24:14-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul denies any stirring of crowds, arguing with anyone at the temple or causing a commotion. But he does share what he was doing, he tells the truth of why he was at the temple, and that he does believe everything that is written in the Law. Paul, brining the unifying message of the Gospel, then makes this bold and fascinating statement that I want to camp out on today, So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Paul says this and then just moves on, but we need to take hold of this statement and do some internal processing with these words. I looked up this verse and found a great article from Oswald Chambers about conscience. 

Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. - Oswald Chambers

Conscience is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. So starting with this, and the highest standard we have, how are we seeing our situation? The eye of the soul, this is our sight and our visual towards situations, are we seeing them through the lens of a God-shaped standard, or something else? Are we full of and seeing our situation through God’s grace, or are we leaning towards worldly wrath and seeing through a lens of redemption and recourse? What is our highest standard, and are we responding and acting like it in the most challenging of times? Wow, something convicting and worth processing.

Then, we move towards Paul's full statement and the more profound challenge. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. 

I like the word here strive, that gives me a little insight that Paul pursues this, desires it, works at it, but isn't perfect. All through Paul’s writings, we get why this is important to him. A blog post I found on the topic said it well, and summed it up this way;

The goal for keeping a clear conscience is to BE loving, BE obedient to God’s written Word, and BE genuine and authentic about our faith. Our clear conscience enables us to quickly discern the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Or, my tattoo on my right forearm says it this way, Love God, Love Others. These actions enable us to discern the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

So, let me leave you with this, and it is what I am processing right now. In each situation I face, am I expressing love, being obedient to God’s Word, and bringing genuine and authentic expressions to my faith? As we post a comment on social media, as we text a friend or life group member, or write an email to a co-worker. As we interact with our friends and family, what is the highest standard we have in our minds? This is a high bar and a bar that Paul modeled so well for us. 

Lord, as we go into this day, and this fresh new week you have given us, it is our prayer always to strive to keep our conscience clear before God and man.