Maintain a Good Conscience (1 Peter 3:16-17)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 01-15-04

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Maintain a good conscience

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 3:16-17

 

            Message of the verse:  “16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”  (NASB95)  “16 But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.  17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”  (NLT)

            In order for believers to have an affective wittiness to the lost they must maintain a good conscience.  The word conscience means to “know with,” and it can be described as a window that lets in the light of God.  Windows can become dirty and not let in the light as well as when they are clean, and this can happen to the conscience.  The Bible describes different types of consciences, a defiled conscience is described in Titus 1:15, and a seared conscience is described in 1Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 10:22 describes an evil conscience and Acts 24:16 describes a good conscience.  “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”  1Corinthians 8 describes a weak conscience.

            Having a good conscience is helpful when believers are persecuted for the cause of Christ because they know full well that what they are doing is right.  Our great example, of course, is Jesus Christ who was crucified because of doing what was right.  Peter tells his readers that it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is good to be reminded that I need to maintain a good conscience in order to be effective wittiness for the cause of Christ, and that I am to be gentle and not abrasive with my witness for the Lord.  It could be said that “spiritual Windex” is keeping a short list with the Holy Spirit.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Maintain a good conscience.