“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way” – Heb 13:18

When Paul defended himself before Felix, he said, “there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” (Ac 24:15-16)The conscience is an inner voice God has placed in our heart as our moral judgment. (Ro 2:15). As fallen creature our hearts can become seared and hardened (1Ti 4:2; Eph 4:18-19), hence it must be informed by the truth of God’s Word. It is a sin when we violate our conscience by not doing the good we ought to do (Jas 4:17) or doing whatever is not from faith. (Ro 14: 14,23)

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jer 17:9) Only the Word of God can reveal our innermost being. When Timothy was charged to oppose the false teachers, Paul said, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1Ti 1:5) As leaders we can only maintain a good conscience with the integrity of our hearts by building our faith on God’s Words alone.

As we walk in the light we are walking in moment by moment obedience to His light, the truth of His Words. Then our conscience is cleansed by the blood of Jesus as we fellowship with one another. (1Jn 1:7) Our personal obedience to God is a prerequisite to leading others in obedience to God.

Our clear conscience does not make us innocent for God is our judge. (1Co 4:4) However we should be like Job who held fast to his integrity in the midst of trials. “I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” (Job 27:6)

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for your Words like a double-edged sword that judges the attitudes of my heart. Please help me to lead with a clear conscience before God and men. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Before we go, take a look at the questionnaire below:

1. Why is it especially important for leaders to maintain a clean and unblemished conscience?

2. In your view, what practical steps can Christians take to keep their conscience keenly attuned?

3. First Timothy 1:5 highlights that love arises from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. How do you believe this principle can be applied in team management?