Is it possible to live and proclaim what the apostle Paul proclaimed in Acts 23:1?  "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day..."

The hearts of men and women can be continually evil before a Holy God.  We do things many times thinking with our minds and not with the mind of Christ.  Even though we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds and that by the Word of God, there is still that area of ungodliness in our earthly vessels.

If a person is barely in the kingdom of God by the skin of their teeth and not getting into the Word of God on a daily basis, how will they ever survive?  They certainly will not be transforming their minds by the good things of God's Word.  In fact, they will make decisions based on their own thinking and in doing so, think they are actually doing such a good thing for God and others when, in fact, they are being led by themselves and not God.

The apostle Paul did just that before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.  Saul (Paul before his conversion to Christianity) was a religious zealot.  He was actually going to Damascus to arrest, throw in prison, and kill those early believers in Jesus Christ.  He actually thought he was doing a great thing for God, only to find out he was actually fighting against God's will.  Once he found out he was doing wrong, he changed directions, wanting to please God above all things.

How do you decide what to do and when to do it?  Do you seek God and His Word first, listening for that still small voice to lead you into His righteousness?  Or, do you charge ahead and do things that seem like good works to you and everyone around you, having your own way, regardless of the outcome, or who you may be hurting?

Maybe it would be a good time to stop and pray?  Are you doing what God wants you to do?  Is God pleased with your direction?  Is God leading you or are you leading yourself?

Paul lived in all good conscience before God.  Let's seek to please God before pleasing men with our accomplishments and decisions.  Only then will we be able to live in all good conscience before God. 

Only after hearing that still small voice of our Savior will we truly do good works that are pleasing to God.