DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

"For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in this world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you." (II Corinthians 1:12

The thing that gave the Apostle Paul the greatest sense of accomplishment was that his conscience was clean because he lived in this world with simplicity and godly sincerity. This was not a proud boast, but a humble rejoicing that he had a clear conscience. There was no pretense, no duplicity or hypocrisy in his life, and he felt especially clear in his relationship with the Corinthians. As the old saying goes, "What you see is what you get." The Corinthians may not have always liked what Paul gave them, but there was no subterfuge or playing games with Paul. He was who he was, without any hidden agenda.

The same was true of Jesus. There was no hidden agenda. He came to tell the world of God's love and the way to get to the Father. He was not into self-promotion. He was willing to risk losing followers by telling them the truth even if they didn't want to hear it. And there were people who left him and stopped following Him. They became offended by His words, and many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more (John 6:66). In all of this, Jesus remained true to His integrity and calling.

As followers of the Lord Jesus, may we have His spirit that lives with simplicity and sincerity, without pretense, hypocrisy, or hidden agenda. That is the way to live with a clean conscience. When we have that clear conscience, we can rejoice.

Love, Dad