Hold on to the Good

Put everything to the test. Hold on to what is good.  (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIrV)

Once you've identified a "box" (thought) as being good or bad by God's definition, removing the bad box is only half the job.  We won't have a clear conscience unless we hold on to the good ones.

Have you ever felt like you were arguing with "yourself" over something you should do?  Perhaps you noticed a homeless person you passed by on the street.  He didn't even ask you for anything, but you could just tell he was hungry.  Maybe you have a friend who needed someone to talk to, you had the time, but you ignored her anyway.  Someone came to mind and you felt this need to pray for him or her on the spot.  You didn't know what to pray for, so you didn't try at all.

You see, God is one of the sources of "boxes" (thoughts) that comes into our minds.  Even when He doesn't speak directly to us through His Spirit, good boxes still can get in our minds through angels, other people, and even the world.  Each of those good boxes originated with God.  They are as important as if God had come down on a mountain and carved them in stone.  The impact of obedience to these thoughts will never be known to us completely in this life.  But God knows the impact.  He wouldn't have given us these good "boxes" without a reason.  He expects us to hold on to them.  In fact He expects us to act on them.  As long as you try to throw away or ignore these good boxes, you will struggle inside and won't have peace.  "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17 NIV84)

Go ahead...say the words He want's you to say.

Do the actions He wants you to do.

When you do, your conscience will be clear.