Scripture

My conscience is clear, bu that doesn’t prove I am right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

Observation

Apollos and Paul are just servants of Christ. Paul does not worry about how he might be evaluated by any human authority. It is the Lord who will judge Paul.

We must not make judgements about anyone before the Lord returns. Then the Lord will judge everyone, giving whatever praise is due.

We should not boast about one leader at the expense of others because we do not have the right to make these judgements.

Application

The heart is deceitful above all things. We are told to follow our heart, but this is a disastrous idea.

Even an apostle like Paul was nervous about trusting his own conscience. He says his conscience was clear, but in the end it is God who makes the judgement.

In all things, we should seek to be faithful to the Lord. I keep my eyes on my patch, doing the task that Christ has called me to. He will judge my faithfulness.

There is then no room for me to judge other people. I don’t see their motives or the reasons why they do things. Therefore I cannot judge them.

If a clear conscience proves nothing in me, how can I presume to judge others?

Prayer

Lord, please convert my conscience and all my thoughts to your purposes. Help me not to judge other leaders, but instead stay focused on the mission you have assigned to me. Amen.