Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Worshiping with a Clear Conscience

Acts 24:10b: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, talked a lot about self-examination when we come to worship celebrations.  Paul practiced it. He searched himself to make sure that he was worshiping rightly, in his relationship with God and others there.  He was now being accused of worshiping wrongly - disturbing the peace. But He was able to confidently stand and say otherwise: He worshiped the right One, in the right Way, not violating Scripture in any way.  He worshiped with a sense of other-worldliness, recognizing that there is more than meets the eye, or any other physical sense we may have.  He worshiped in hope, which many in his day had all but lost, having given up on ever seeing the Messiah.  He had seen Him, trusted in Him, and lived for Him. That is how we can worship with a clear conscience, in confidence: Recognizing Christ as Savior, trusting Him for salvation, living for Him according to His standards, looking for Him to come again.  Do you worship with a clear conscience? 

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