Acts 26:14, “…Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
As I continue to read through the New Testament, I am always amazed how the Lord brings new revelation to scripture we may have read previously but breezed over without the full utterance of its meaning. One recent scripture that came to light was within Acts 26:14 when the Lord spoke to Saul about it being difficult to kick against the goads. Even after having read this before and looking up the meaning for goad, it was not until recently that the Lord brought to mind clarity and a better comprehension of this verse.
A goad is defined as an incident, prompting or tool that stimulates or urges action. This could be a response to a goad by an individual, an incident that prompts an entity to re-address procedural responses or in the case of an animal a pointed stick that is used to drive oxen or cattle. Even though I had read this verse previously, it wasn’t until now that the Lord revealed to me an understanding of its meaning.
Acts 26:12 starts with Saul outlining to Governor Festus, King Agrippa and Bernice His encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus. Saul states, in the continuation of his crusade against Christians, he was headed to Damascus with an order of authority from the Sanhedrin to arrest, jail and persecute any and all Christians. Please keep in mind the depravity of Saul’s crusade, he persecuted men, women and children without hesitation.
Where the trip takes a turn is when Saul, soon to be converted to Paul, encounters the glorious revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ and in his words,” in a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me (Acts 26:13).” Saul and everyone with him were overcome by this light from heaven and all of them were knocked to the ground. In His glory, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ confronts Saul asking why Saul continually persecutes Him through His followers. The next sentence has always left me a little confused as it states, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads (Acts 26:14).”
If goads are promptings or stimulants urging action, then what is the meaning that Saul kicks against the goads? Over the past few months of studying scriptures related to the conscience, not knowing the exact next steps of what the Lord would direct with the information from the study, I just kept taking notes and being obedient. I felt compelled to study out the verses related to the conscience and then, while reading through Acts the Lord opened the revelation, goads from the Lord are prompted through our conscience.
Our conscience as directed through Holy Spirit is meant to prompt and encourage a believer’s thoughts, actions and reactions as we walk out God’s will for our lives. Thinking back on Saul, throughout his conquest there must have been times when through a troubled conscience Saul questioned or even paused to meditate upon why he was persecuting Christians from the standard of the Jewish Law. Saul’s recollection of this event within Acts 26 shows his conscience to be goading him to reflect and convert from these actions because at the very moment the Lord appeared to him, Saul had a full revelation and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. Not only did Saul accept Jesus in full faith, but he dedicated the remainder of his life to serving the Lord and spreading the gospel throughout the known world.
Knowing the Lord uses the conscience through our connectivity with Holy Spirit to goad or drive our decisions, words and actions, then let’s review several conscience related scripture.
Our conscious through obedience to the goading of Holy Spirit “bears witness” to Jesus Christ. Romans 2:15, “…who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, while their conflicting thoughts accuse and even excuse them, in the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ.” A believer’s conscience directs their steps from the heart through a relationship with Holy Spirit. We can see the inward and externally influential conflict within a person through the verse, “conflicting thoughts accuse and even excuse them,”. This verse relates to a believer’s obedience to the conscience bearing witness of Jesus in their actions and reactions no matter what the circumstance may be. A person’s conscience gives directive from the heart, not the rationale of the mind, physical relevance or external influences, but from the heart where the conscience resides. As noted in the last line, “God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ.”
A believer’s conscience is an overcoming strength in reverent fear when faced with grief and suffering unjustly. Acts 26:19 states, “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God a person endures grief, suffering unjustly.” Reverent fear as defined in bibletools.org is,” the fear that conquers all other fears, because the person who truly fears God fears nothing else.” As we look a little deeper, the fear of God is based on love. 1 John 4:16-18 tells us, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” When we reference reverent fear, it is a God full filling love that is within a believer directing their walk in obedience to their ambassadorship for Jesus. Not that we walk in fear of God, but we walk in the fear that we would be displeasing to the Creator of all. The fear is not toward God, but toward our love for God and the possibility we may let Him down. This is easily recognized in 2 Corinthians 5: 9-10, “9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
And last, a clear conscience gives you strength and resilience in Christ to stand against those that may come against you and your good behavior in Christ. 1 Peter 3: 15-17 states, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” When walking out God’s will for your life, an openness and connectivity with Holy Spirit directs an obedient heart in turn allowing for a clear conscience that is in alignment with God and His Truth. Only through a relationship with our Savior can this be true and only through a connectivity with the Holy Spirit can this be possible.
In life, there are many opportunities to do things our way or how we believe it should be through carnal knowledge when all the time God is there, prompting us through Holy Spirit and goading us within our conscience to be obedient to His will and His way. It is helpful to keep in mind God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). When following God, it is not always clear, but it is impactful for the Kingdom.
The conscience as goaded within Holy Spirit can be life giving through cleansing (Hebrews 9:14), reverent fear (1 Peter 2:19), good conduct (1 Peter 3:16) or an activist for bearing witness (Romans 2:14-16). In turn, the conscience if ignored or allowed to be disconnected from Holy Spirit can be seared (1 Timothy 4:1), dead works (Hebrews 9:9), evil (Hebrews 10:22) or perpetually focused upon sin consciousness (Hebrews 10:2). As believers, through worship, prayer and meditation upon God’s Word we are enlightened to God’s will and connected to Jesus through the Holy Spirit allowing each of us to live a life of obedience as directed by our conscience as we reflect Jesus in our daily walks.
I want to encourage each of you to be aware of the need for a conscience that is clear and connected to Holy Spirit and the life-or-death opportunities that may lie ahead of these commitments. In the name of Jesus I pray your hearts, souls and minds are opened to the revelation of Holy Spirit and His goading’s through your conscience as we continue to live a life pleasing and obedient to God our Father, the Creator and Sovereign LORD of all being. May your days be filled with His love, your hearts with His Peace and your souls with His rest and strength. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray and give all the glory.
Shalom!!
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