Daily Devotional for January 5, 2015
Acts 24
Scripture:
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
Observation:
Paul sets a great example for us as he declares, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (verse 16). The study notes in the Fire Bible say, “A clear and clean conscience is listed in God’s Word as essential for a successful spiritual life and effective service for God.” The word conscience is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong.” As Spirit-empowered men, we must let our actions speak as loud as our words. It’s not enough to just say the right things, we must do them as well. With God’s Word as our guide, this is a challenge for us to keep doing what is right, holy, and pure.
Our conscience does not differentiate between public actions and private ones. In other words, men may appear on the outside to have it all together, however, their conscience may be eating them alive due to their private thoughts and actions. It is imperative that we live with integrity by staying holy and pure in public and in private. Keeping our conscience clear is accomplished by always doing what is right.
Is your conscience clear today? If not, ask for forgiveness of the actions that are troubling you and move forward with a clear conscience. Strive always to keep your conscience clear before God and man.
Application:
- Personal Application: With God’s Word as your moral compass, live your life honestly and honorably. Always do what is right and always treat people right as it honors God. This will keep your conscience clear as you travel this discipleship journey.
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that always doing what is right will keep your conscience clear and make you more effective for God’s Kingdom. Pray for them.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help us keep our conscience clear by helping us always do what is right.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family’s moral compass will be grounded in God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will help them to do what is holy and right.
Three Year Reading Plan for Sunday, January 3 – Sunday, January 10:
- Sunday, January 3: Acts 22
- Monday, January 4: Acts 23
- Tuesday, January 5: Acts 24
- Wednesday, January 6: Acts 25
- Thursday, January 7: Acts 26
- Friday, January 8: Acts 27
- Saturday, January 9: Acts 28
- Sunday, January 10: Psalm 70-71
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
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