WHY CONVICTIONS HAVE POWER

“Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”—John 8:9

 

Our Scripture reference today demonstrates the power of our convictions.  Convictions are beliefs or opinions that we hold firmly too.   A person is said to hold a conviction because he or she has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his or her beliefs are true. Have you noticed that a lot of people choose to live by their preference rather than their conviction?  Their belief is based on certain conditions and circumstances and when the situation changes, so does their loyalty.  

 

 

In other words, a lot of people waver on issues that require a firm resolve.

Contrast this vacillating approach with the mindset of the great men and women of Scripture. Contrary to many years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles.  As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure Israel’s survival, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive”(Genesis 50:20).  Daniel, another righteous man in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Daniel 1-2). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God, “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego shall be cut to pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this” (Daniel 3:29).

 

As these biblical heroes show, godly convictions can withstand the changing view points of opinion and persuasive reasoning of men. If we are grounded in the Word and trust what God has said, we can stand firm in our beliefs.   Confidence produces the courage to remain strong during times of conflict. 

 

There are martyrs world-wide who have suffered at the hands of their accusers, but they do not go against their convictions.  We, in the western “civilized” hemisphere, have not suffered at the hands of those who physically torture those who preach in Christ’s name.  However, we waver in our convictions in the name of “what is socially acceptable.”  The Scriptures warn us about such apathy and how it “waters” down our faith.  Paul urged Timothy to hold fast to faith, “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith” (1 Timothy 1:4).

 

Today I urge you to examine your heart to see if your convictions are anchored in Jesus or in the opinions of others.  We can only hold steady in a storm to what we personally believe in.  The Scriptures have much to say about the most important aspects of your life.  Through prayer and study, allow your heart to be firmly rooted in solid biblical convictions that can withstand the storms of life and the opinion of men.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father, I ask You to help me to hold steady to my convictions of what your Word proclaims during times of adversities in my life,  Today I confess by faith that Your Word is a strong anchor that I cling to in the time of trouble, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.