Acts 24:16

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Acts 24:16

Paul is speaking of the resurrection and his preperation thereof. He has been brought before the Roman authority Felix, by the Jewish leaders of the time. He is making the case against the charges that have been brought against him. Paul makes the statement that he has the same hope in God as those that try to punish him, the Pharisees, that there will be a resurection of both the righteous and the wicked. Then the statement "So I strive to keep my conscience clear before God and man."

This one will be quiet simple today. You are responsible to make yourself right and to live each day working eagerly twoards making yourself righteous in this world. This is both to your friends and nieghbors and to God. You can not do one without the other.

You can not say something with the wrong heart to a friend, not really meaning it, and think that you have gotten away with something. You can not just give things to God without also making them right with your friend. You, like Paul, must strive to be of pure heart with those in the world and with God.

So some practical application. I do something that may have done something or said something to a friend that caused them some ill feeling or to stumble. We know it by their reaction, maybe we don't care because the person has done it to us before. So we leave it at that and walk away. Bad motives, so we become convicted, but we then only turn to God and ask forgivenenss. Not taking care of the entire situation. Say the same thing happens but this time you say you are sorry to the person, because it is the right thing to do, but you don't really mean it. God knows your heart and you have not kept your conscience clear with Him.

So what really needs to happen, especially if you also will strive to be righteous before God and man, is that you must do the right thing outwardly and inwardly. Like the song says, you can't have one without the other. Think you can truely do this? Can you strive to do it, make it a purpose? Consider what this may mean.

So I don't miss you non believers, the "good" men and woman of the world, how good are you. Is your heart pure enough to pass your own level of goodness when you do these things. Can you try for one day to have a clear conscience of all the things you do? To your co workers, boss, friends or wife? Could you say the hard things, the embarassing things instead of the cover up and half truths/ Can you do the right thing, no matter what all day?

Think of the times when you have been double minded. When you have said something only to get your wife off your back or to satisfy another. Think of all the times you answered your boss with something that may not have been completely honest, knowingly, and you let it go. There is a lot that ties into striving to do what Paul is suggesting. Are you up for the challenge? There is ultimately alot riding on it, because, of course if you aren't truely trying in your heart God will know.

Oh, and for the "good" people, remeber the righteous and the wicked will stand in front of God in the resurrection so you will also need to have a clear consciences as to your standard of "goodness".

Lord, strive is a purposeful word demanding my efforts. Allow my heart to have that purpose always and to, even when it may hurt, have a clear consciences to God and man. Amen.