Rightly Accused

Would our Christian testimony stand up in a court of law?

Paul stood before the Roman administrator, Felix, and listened while his accuser Tertullus, claimed he was a troublemaker who stirred up riots among the Jews all over the world. He was accused of being a ringleader of the Christians and of trying to desecrate the temple. After the accusations were made, other Jews joined Tertullus in asserting these things were true.

When Paul was given permission to speak, he defended himself, saying that the only charge that could be proven against him was the charge that he worshiped the God of his ancestors as a follower of the Way. As he shared the hope he had in the God of the resurrection, he admitted that he believed everything that was written by the Prophets. He refuted the other charges; then he emphasized that he always strived to keep his conscience clear before God and man.

I wonder if we are as meticulous about keeping our conscience clear in order that others or Satan might not bring an accusation against us? Could we rightly be accused of worshiping the one true God and leading others to Christ? I wonder.

May we stand rightly accused before others of letting our “light so shine, that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:10). May we, like Paul, maintain a conscience void of offense, always ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ.

Dear Father, may we always strive as Paul did to keep our conscious void of offense. May we be rightly accused of nothing apart from a passionate desire to glorify Christ. Amen.

Go deeper — Ask a close friend to list the top five things that describes your life. Examine the list for areas that may need submission to the control of the Holy Spirit.