ODJ: clear conscience
August 14, 2011
I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live (v.6).
READ: Job 27:1-6
The previous owner of our house purchased an invisible fence to keep their dog from running into the street. The “fence” is comprised of a wire buried just beneath the surface of the ground, extending around the perimeter of the yard. When the dog approached the wire, the special collar he wore would start beeping, warning him that the end of his room to roam was nearing. If the clueless canine kept going, the collar gave him an unpleasant electrical shock.
A person’s conscience is a lot like that collar. Conscience is the inner faculty that lets us know when we’re getting too close to forbidden moral territory (Romans 2:14-15). It’s a God-given moral compass.
Job, amid great pain, suffering, and bitterness of the soul (Job 27:2), made a commitment to keep his conscience clear before God (vv.3-6). After suffering tragedy upon tragedy, it seems as if he would have been justified in complaining, speaking evil, compromising his principles, and even cursing God. Nobody would have blamed him if he had. But he maintained his righteousness and his integrity.
Though a Christian’s conscience is considered a fairly accurate moral compass, it’s not wholly reliable. According to the writer of Hebrews, the only way it can be completely clear is through the cleansing blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:9,14).
So how can we maintain a clear conscience before God and others? By living out holiness, integrity, godly wisdom, and sincerity (2 Corinthians 1:12, 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:10). We can also invite other believers to pray that we’ll maintain a clear conscience (Hebrews 13:18).
Finally, by consistently presenting our conscience to the perfect and honest evaluation of God (1 Corinthians 4:4), its clarity will reflect the holiness and righteousness He desires. —Marvin Williams
What has your conscience been telling you? In what ways do you need to live more honorably so that you can stand before God and others with a clear conscience?
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