1 TIMOTHY 1:5 – The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

THEME OF THE DAY:  DISCOVERING THE JOY OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.  The theme of today’s nugget is actually a title of a book authored by Christopher Ash. He penned these words in the introduction – This book is about the joy of a clear conscience in every day of living and in the day of death. In The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan uses the crossing of the River Jordan as a picture of the transition from this life into the life to come. He says of one of his characters, Mr. Honest, that ‘in his lifetime’ he ‘had spoken to one Good-conscience to meet him’ on the banks of the Jordan, which he did, ‘and lent him his hand, and so helped him over’. In real life, others too have known such an experience. A close friend of mine knew he was dying of cancer and wanted, as he put it, ‘to die well’. It was a good ambition, and he did die well; he died with a clean conscience.

Friends, there is nothing of more importance in life and death than a clear conscience; one that knows there is no “unfinished business” with God by way of confession and sincerity, and no issues causing a pained conscience in this life from our actions, attitudes and in our relationships with anyone.  One cannot put a price tag on a clear conscience. It is worth more than all the riches in this world, all the achievements we may accomplish in this world, and all the material attainments we may acquire in this world.  And to have this be true of us, the joy of a clear conscience, two things must be present in our lives.

First, be convinced the presence and ability to live a life of love, the greatest virtue in life, and end goal in ministry and life, depends on a good conscience. This is the charge the Apostle Paul gave Timothy in today’s scripture. He lists three of the necessary elements that produce a ministry and life empowered by love – a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.  And here is “the catch” – we simply cannot love in a God-approving manner if we lack purity, sincerity and hold a guilty or “sin-dirtied” conscience.

But we must go further than being convinced of the need for a good and clear conscience.  We must work at it and that constantly.  There is so much sinful distractions in our world, minds, and hearts that unless we do battle against them, a good and clear conscience will not be ours.  The Apostle Paul reminds us of the effort involved to achieve this noble objective – So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man (Acts 24:16). The words “take pains” literally translates, “Exercise, strive” and points to strenuous exertion of energy to achieve something as would an athlete in training.  For Paul? For us? We are to diligently and consistently strive for a good and clear conscience.

In regard to this pursuit, nothing is of greater value in life. Nothing compares with having a clear conscience before God and man, in life and death.  Strive for it by living a life of daily confession and repentance before God and ensuring we are not the cause of any relationships not reconciled or of giving offense to anybody.  May the Lord help us toward such a noble end in life and death.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to strive to maintain a conscience clear and void of offense before You and a watching world.”
QUOTE: “As a Christian, nothing is more joy-filling than knowing we walk with God with a clear conscience.”

Because of Him,
Pastor Jim