A Good Conscience

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage Acts 22:17-23:10 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” Acts 23:1 (NKJV) This is an amazing statement that Paul makes. It is surely one of the keys to Paul's power and effectiveness in life and ministry. HE HAD A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. This does not mean that Paul had never erred. He had, in fact, been a persecutor of the Church. It does not mean that he had always been instantly obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We all continually grow in our ability to hear from God. So what does it mean that Paul had lived "in all good conscience?" Paul understood the meaning of grace. He understood what it meant to surrender. He knew that his life was hidden with Christ in God. He had learned to run to the Lord instantly to find all identity and direction. Therefore, he received continually the cleansing flow of grace. It is a level of connection to God. Watchman Née, in his great book The Normal Christian Life, asks the question, "Is there anything God is asking of you that you are withholding from Him?" May we lived the surrendered, transparent life. It is a life in which we stay in the place of submission to God. It is where you can say, "I walk in all good conscience before God."