Acts 23:1 “Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.’”

AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR DAT

You have probably heard the statement “I have a clear conscience.” Here in this verse we see Paul saying that very thing. But what does that mean? How can someone really have a clear conscience? Isn’t there something in everyone that they feel bad about?

Think of all the evil Paul did before he came to Christ. He stood by while Stephen was stoned. He pursued believers to jail and even kill them. But when he met Christ on the road to Damascus all those sins were forgiven. He was completely cleansed, not just his heart but also his conscience. The Lord gave him a new mind with instructions not to dwell in the past.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children sin. Let’s admit that. Most of us see them make bad choices daily. Usually their sins at an early age are “little” sins, like lying or hitting their brother. But sin is sin, and the devil wants them to feel bad about it. So bad in fact, that they can’t forgive themselves sometimes.

But if your child is a believer, every sin they have committed in the past and all those they will commit in the future are under the blood of Christ. What a conscience clearing statement! Moms and Dads, you have to teach your kids that. They need to know that no matter what they do, Christ loves them and has died to forgive them.

That doesn’t give them (or us) the license to do as we please though. You have to make that distinction with them. As a believer, the Holy Spirit will convict them when they have sinned to drive them to repentance, not to guilt. We are free as believers to do AS WE SHOULD.

The next time your child sins and you have to correct them, afterwards celebrate the fact that the guilt is gone once they repent. There is no burden to bear. Hallelujah!