FAITH CAPSULE: Having a good conscience is a purpose of God’s command.

John 8:1-12, Acts 24

1Timothy 1:5-6, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.” Ones that love with pure heart strive for good conscience and they are the ones with sincere faith. It is not possible to claim faith (as many in the church do) and not have a good conscience. Conscience is the sense of right and wrong that governs a person’s thoughts and actions. Conscience is what convicts man to turn man from what is not right. Lying, deception and manipulation are the identities of church and it is the evidence of one that lacks conscience. It is lack of conscience that causes a believer to live life in empty pride consciously or unconsciously.
The Pharisees brought a woman that was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus hoping for a judgment that calls for stoning her according to the Law of Moses. Jesus responded, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7) The book John 8:9 documented the reaction of the people, “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one…”
Paul in his defense before Felix made it known in his statement that conscience is what we strive for. Paul stated, “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:16) Having conscience without offence toward God and man is a good conscience. It is living according to the purpose of command. Daniel testified to it as a way of overcoming evil that was set against man. After Daniel has been through whole night in the lion’s den with his life intact, the King approached the den where Daniel spent night with hungry lions saying, “…Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20)  Daniel spoke back to the King, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” (Daniel 6:21-22)

Paul’s testimony and Daniel’s testimony is a confirmation that striving for good conscience before man and God works for man’s deliverance. Paul identified how he strived for good conscience with God and man. By Daniel’s word, it is clear that Daniel did not do wrong before the king and God.
Consciously examine your conscience today and be of good conscience which is pleasing to God. Ones that are misplacing the purpose of God’s command are set to be displaced and not experience God in their challenge.

Prayer for today: Ask God to bestow upon you and be able to live life with good conscience.