Keep Your Powder Dry

“But in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:15-16 RSV).

Keep your conscience clear. It sounds like, “Keep your powder dry.” In both cases, it is a means of being ready for battle. A clear conscience is a means of shaming those who revile good behavior. A conscience is kept clear two ways: 1) Obeying God. 2) Confessing sin when disobedience occurs. I find that obedience is the simpler of the two. When I sin and my conscience is not clear, it is harder, because of pride, to confess my sin.

Written July 1984.

This post coordinates with Friday's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

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