Seeking Him Week Eight Clear Conscience Dealing with Offenses Toward Others

Seeking Him Week Eight—Clear Conscience: Dealing with Offenses Toward Others

7/20/2021

Welcome to our Summer 2021 Book Club-Style Bible Study! We are using the book Seeking Him by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom.

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Whether you are a brand new lover of Jesus Christ, or you’ve been a Christian for years, this insightful study will impact your life in a transformative way. Seeking Him will reward you with a deeper walk with God and set your life on a path to be used greatly by our Savior.

Clear Conscience: Dealing with Offenses Toward Others

“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” Acts 24:16

Are you still serious about personal revival?

If so, not only will there be a renewal in your vertical relationship with God, but you will also be willing to make things right in your relationships with those around you. It is in these relationships that humility and holiness are practically lived out and proven to be genuine.

What does it mean to live with a clear conscience in regards to others?

It means avoiding offenses in our words, our actions, and our attitudes.
It means quickly repenting and admitting when we have failed. Asking forgiveness and even making restitution.
It means being able to look everyone in the eye without shame knowing that we have done all we could to make things right.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:18

It means saying something similar to what Samuel said in I Samuel 12. “Whose ox have I taken…whom have I defrauded…oppressed…?"

Since our neighbor most likely has no ox, we may say,

“Whom have I stolen from? Cheated? Who have I hurt in any way? Have I been unfair or unkind to anyone? Tell me now and I will make it right.”

Why does God consider this so important?

In Matthew 12:40, Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Conversely, in verse 45 He says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

There is a principle here. The good or evil we do to others, we ultimately do to Jesus. If we have sinned against others, we have ultimately sinned against Him, and all offences must be made right in order to live a life of peace with God and man.

When we approach God with a clear conscience, knowing that we have made all things right with those around us, there is not only a peace, but there is an assurance of His presence, His power, and His blessing.

Many times we struggle with prayer because of a guilty conscience. Because of sins against others, which are ultimately sins against God. As we offer up prayers and worship to God, we are responsible to come with a clean conscience.

“ ….let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience….” Hebrews 10:2

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5,

“So, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24

Whether we are offering a monetary gift or are offering up our prayers to God (Hebrews 5:7), we must do it with a clear conscience toward all.

This is the heart God revives.

Oh God, please reveal to me the one I have wronged or offended. I want to have a clear conscience towards You and all others. Thank You for your grace to do the right thing!

How are you doing in your relationships with those around you? How will you seek Him this week?

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12 Comments

Barbara Harper link

7/20/2021 09:20:57 am

This is such an important point. We tend to let little rifts and offenses pile up.

Julie

7/21/2021 04:54:14 pm

Yes, we do. It’s easy to think, “oh, it will blow over,” or “they will eventually forget.” But it is hard to forget things like that. I suppose one thing for me to remember is, do to others what you would have them do to you.

Debbie Wilson link

7/20/2021 09:22:32 am

Patsy your words remind me of what someone pointed out. When you draw a vertical line indicating our relationship with Christ and a horizontal line for our relationship with people, you form a cross.

7/21/2021 04:48:58 pm

That’s so cool! I’ve never heard that before❤️

Jerralea Winn Miller link

7/20/2021 09:52:38 am

This is something I worry a lot about. I do not want to be a stumbling block to others, so I do search my conscience and try to apologize if I have offended in anyway. Sometimes, though, we don't realize something we said or did rubbed others the wrong way!

7/21/2021 04:46:21 pm

I know what you mean, Jerralea. We can be so careful, and there is that one thing that we didn’t realize hurt or offended. It goes back to meekness and humility, and ultimately love. I have to regularly pray that God would guard my lips and also reveal what I need to make right.

jan link

7/20/2021 11:36:39 am

Being in the proper spiritual place indeed is vital-thx for this. The comments are spot on too.
Jan

Patsy Burnette link

8/10/2021 03:12:23 pm

I love all the comments, Jan. :) So much fun hearing from like-minded friends!

Lauren Renee Sparks link

7/21/2021 05:06:29 pm

A tough topic. Thank you for tackling it with grace and truth.

8/10/2021 03:13:21 pm

I think this whole series is though, Lauren! But WOW do I ever need it, again and again! God knows! :)

Maryleigh link

7/22/2021 10:59:10 am

Sometimes I think there is a difference between sin and offense because there are those who seem to live offended in ways deliberately designed to build walls. I've been thinking and praying about this, praying that God would show me where I've sinned so that I can make it right, yet live in peace with those who choose to find offense as a weapon. Thank you, Patsy, for this post to remind us to spiritually check ourselves in order to experience revival in our relationship with God.

7/22/2021 01:00:03 pm

That’s an excellent point. I was thinking about that this morning when talking to someone dealing with just that thing. We have to definitely be discerning. There are people prone to being offended. It reminds me of the verse in Psalms that says, Great peace have they which love Thy law and nothing shall offend them.
Yes, it’s a good idea to be praying that “God would show me where I've sinned so that I can make it right, yet live in peace with those who choose to find offense as a weapon.”
Thank you.

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