Therefore I tell you boldly that my conscience does not reproach me now or for the future.

  - Patrick, Confession (British, 5th century)

"So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man."

 - Acts 24.16

Patrick was being held up by his superiors in his attempt to follow the Lord's call to Ireland. He had no training or credentials, and the prospects for his succeeding looked dim.

But he had a call from the Lord which he could not deny. His superiors tried to keep him from going by throwing some sin from his youth at him. But Patrick had dealt with that, and he knew he was forgiven. While they continued to fuss and dawdle, Patrick simply took his inheritance and left. And his conscience did not reprove him, either then or later in life.

How can we know when our consciences are "clear" or "good" (1 Tim. 1.5)? Secular science puts no stock in such immaterial things as consciences, minds, and affections. It's all chemicals and electricity to them (I've expressed my concerns about neuroscience here and here).

But the Bible is clear that human beings have souls, and each person's soul consists of mind, heart, and conscience. These are separate but overlapping and fully integrated spiritual components, each with its own function, but complementing the others at the same time. The mind observes, analyzes, thinks, and plans; the heart feels, aspires, hopes, and longs; and the conscience processes thinking and feeling into action.

A clear or good conscience is required to ensure that actions of love, whether words or deeds, come forth from the dialog which is continuously sustained within our souls. God has written His Law on our hearts to guide the conscience in arbitrating between thinking and feeling. The better we know His Law, the more likely it will be that our words and deeds will issue from a clear conscience, and we'll be able to echo the same convictions as Patrick and Paul.

But this suggests that we have a good, working knowledge of the Law of God. The Law of God is holy and righteous and good (Rom. 7.12). Meditation in God's Law characterizes the righteous and blessed person (Ps. 1). The Law marks out the path that Jesus walked, and that all true disciples walk as well (1 Jn. 2.1-6). The Law of God is the way to Kingdom greatness (Matt. 5.17-19). We cannot be said truly to be seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness unless we are reading, meditating in, and studying the Law of God.

Nor can we expect to have a clear conscience in the absence of these disciplines.

The way to a life of love is through a healthy soul, and the way to a healthy soul is by means of a good and clear conscience. You can't have that apart from God's Law, for it is by His Law that the Spirit of God teaches us to turn from sin and seek the path of righteousness and love (Ezek. 36.26, 27; Jn. 16.8-11).

Is your conscience clear concerning the Law of God?

Today at The Fellowship

ReVision - Two questions on beauty are in focus today. We'd like your input.

The Law of God - Here is the best - indeed, the only - compilation I know of the commandments, statutes, and precepts of God's Law. I use it daily in my morning devotions. Get your copy today from our bookstore.

Mentoring - Pastors, need some help strengthening your spiritual life or sharpening your ministry skills? Visit our website or drop me a line, and we'll talk.

We are often asked how you can contribute to our ministry. Simply use the donate button here, or at the website, or send your gifts to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 100 Lamplighter Ct., Hamilton, VA, 20158. And thank you so much for thinking about us and praying for us.

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.