Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. Hebrews 13:18
Do you have a good conscience? Do you live honestly? What a question to ask a Christian! Of course we all as Christians have a good conscience and live honestly! Oh? Why then are there so many verses in the Bible, in addition to today’s text, urging us to honesty? Take Romans 12:17, for example: ‘Provide things honest in the sight of all men’. And a similar verse in 2 Corinthians 8:21: ‘Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men’. And honesty is one of the virtues listed in Philippians 4:8: ‘Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things’. These and other admonitions in the Scriptures remind us that our Lord wants us to be honest and wants our consciences clear. Sadly, we all know Christians, or folks claiming to be Christians, who are less than honest. That’s wrong, and the Lord wants us to do something about it.
I am reminded of the mother of an elementary student who was told by the child’s teacher that the girl had been stealing pens from the other students in her class. ‘I don’t know why she would do that’, the mother replied. ‘Her father brings plenty of pens home from the office.’ Children learn from their parents’ behaviour. Children who see their parents steal or cheat will see no reason not to do the same. As Christian parents, our honest behaviour will help our children to see that honesty is right. One of the big objections that many people throw at us when we seek to present the Gospel is the hypocrisy they see in people claiming to be Christians. We can’t answer for other people, but we can all conduct ourselves in honesty, because a good testimony is key to being able to reach people with the message of Salvation.
The writer of Hebrews knew the importance of honesty. And he asks the readers to pray for him in this regard. That’s an important prayer for us today, to pray that we will be kept honest before God and the world, and that other Christians would be kept honest too. Because it is so important, I urge you to include this important element in your prayers for the Lord’s people.
Again, are we as honest as we should be? Is our conscience clear? Something to pray about today. – Jim MacIntosh