IN OUR CONVICTIONS, THEREFORE IN OUR DEFENSE 20Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.22You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. Romans 14:20-23 (NLT). A person of conviction may have become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his beliefs are true. Today, most of us would rather live by preference than conviction. We choose to believe something based on certain conditions and/or situations/circumstances. When the situation/circumstance changes, so does our loyalty. In other words, a lot of us vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve. Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women of Scripture. Despite 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 (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:20). 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 (3:29). As these biblical heroes show, godly convictions can withstand the changing winds of opinion and the persuasive arguments of opponents. If we are grounded in the Word and trust what God has said, we can stand firm in our beliefs. Confidence breeds the courage to remain strong amid conflict. Instead of following our own preferences, we choose to live by godly conviction. The Bible has much to say about the most important aspects of our life. We can see if God’s principles and promises hold true. Through our praying and studying, we allow Him to firmly root us in solid biblical convictions. Father God, I may not understand, but I believe. Therefore, I pray that you continue to work in me and through me, that others may come to a saving knowledge of who You truly are. I pray this is the Holy Name of Christ Jesus. Amen
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 21:39:59 +0000
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