This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
I once received an email from a reader who told me, “I left my faith because it was no longer working for me.”
I replied this way: “If I could be so bold, what does ‘it was no longer working for me’ have anything to do with whether you keep your faith or not? Faith is believing in what is true (but unseen). Whether it works for you or not is not the filter you should be using. If it is true, it is to be believed—and our lives should be adjusted accordingly.”
I’m not sure that was the reply she expected. But it was the reply I felt moved to offer.
Because it matters quite a bit. Our feelings do not determine the truth. God does.
God’s ways are bigger than ours. And what is true is true, regardless of how we feel about it.
For that reason, I was struck by a phrase that Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Corinth—a phrase that was, without a doubt, prompted by the Holy Spirit.
Look at what he writes in verse 4, in the midst of calling the Church to unity and maturity and holiness and righteousness:
“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.”
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. What does he mean by that?
Paul is saying, “My conscience is clean. I am preaching what is true, doing what I believe is right, and doing what God has called me to accomplish. But there is a judge greater than me. And just because I believe I am innocent does not mean I am. It is God who will ultimately decide.”
That might be something we all need to be reminded of today.
Our lives will be judged. And our actions will not be judged by whether we felt they were right. Our lives will be judged by a holy and righteous God against his perfect standard of truth.
For that reason, may we all seek to know Him, learn His voice, and follow Him in obedience. So that we might all receive praise from God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are holy and righteous. Help me not to live by my own standard of truth, but by Yours. Give me a heart that seeks to know Your truth and the power, through Your Holy Spirit, to live it out. Amen.