{"id":3106,"date":"2023-09-20T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/?p=3106"},"modified":"2023-09-21T09:26:56","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T01:26:56","slug":"daily-devotion-september-20-2023-striving-to-keep-our-conscience-clear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/2023\/09\/20\/daily-devotion-september-20-2023-striving-to-keep-our-conscience-clear\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotion (September 20, 2023): Striving to Keep Our Conscience Clear"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.21.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Please Read Acts 24:1\u201326<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, \u201cThat\u2019s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.\u201d At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Acts 24:24\u201326<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

DEVOTIONAL<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

by Elder Chris Beltran<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We see how people with high positions, politicians, police, military, and even Christian leaders abuse their authority, forget the pledges and vows they made to the Lord, and take advantage of the flock to pursue the world’s pleasures. If you google “The Bad Popes,” a 1969 book by E. R. Chamberlin, the book documents the lives of some controversial popes, the “representative of Jesus Christ on earth.” We see many evangelists starting with the right mission, but the riches, power, and position corrupted their values along the way. This is very disturbing. The Bible keeps reminding us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ alone. Riches, fame, power, and position corrupt one’s values if we do not acknowledge that the Lord is the owner of everything.<\/span><\/p>\n

In our passage today, Paul strived for the truth even if it would cost him inconvenience, beatings, persecutions, and dangers. The high priest and religious leaders loved their religious beliefs so intensely that they were willing to deny the truth and peddle lies and false accusations more than loving and obeying the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

We often forget that our main thing is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength, love others as ourselves, and seek God’s Kingdom first. Is our love for the Lord deep enough to obey these great commandments without complaining?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Heavenly Father, we reflect on Paul’s defense of faith. Help us strive to keep our conscience clear. Help us speak Your truth confidently, respond with grace to accusations, and draw others nearer to You. Give us the courage to stand for our beliefs and share the gospel boldly. In Jesus’ name, amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

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TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE Please Read Acts 24:1\u201326 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, \u201cThat\u2019s enough for now! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotionals","category-text-devo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3106"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3108,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3106\/revisions\/3108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}