The power of conviction

 If you are a Christian, you are probably familiar with the term convicted, or conviction.

A conviction from the Holy Spirit is there to protect us from harm.  A conviction from the Holy Spirit is God's way of leading us back to the right path.

But I have noticed something that disturbs me about conviction.  I have seen the Spirit move in people's hearts to convict them of sin and what disturbs me is that they ignore it.  How do I know? I see no change in their attitude or behavior.

Conviction is nothing at all like shame.  God never, no never, shames us.  

So when He convicts us of a bad attitude, outright sin, or whatever else needs convicting in our lives, it is always for our own good.   It doesn't make us feel "bad."  But if not acted on through repentance, the Holy Spirit will give up.  The Holy Spirit never forces Himself on us.  He will not force us to repent, mend our ways, and humble ourselves before Him.  That is up to us.  He leaves the decision up to us.

We get to choose to remain in our sin, bad habits, offensive-to-God ways, or not.  

It disturbs me to see Christians living in pride instead of repentance.  Repenting involves humility.  We must admit that we are wrong.  And how many people do you know who do that?!

Some won't even admit their guilt before God Almighty!  This is what, I believe, separates the wheat from the chaff.  God knows the hearts of all men.

What these hapless creatures do not know is that there is freedom, joy, peace, and all the good things God wants to give them, on the other side of repentance.  If only they would go through the process of repentance, turning to God, seeking His forgiveness, and choose, by His power, to stop going on in their sin, they would get to know the real Jesus: merciful, gracious, ready to forgive and restore.

But then they have company right where they're at!  They are part of the majority of those who refuse to repent.  So if "no one else" is bothering to repent, why should they?  There are unspoken, unwritten rules about such things.  "If you act like us, you are one of us.  If not, get out!"

That's basically how the Pharisees treated Jesus.  Jesus simply would not give in to their demands, "control," and mind games.  I'm sure His very Presence was a conviction to them and their diabolical legalism.  But repent?  They wanted no part of it, or Him.

So in what area or areas is the Lord lovingly convicting you of sin?  You have no sin in your life?  Remember, I John 1:8-9 (see the pic above).  

Here's the beautiful thing about repenting.  We grow in Christ.  We grow in His likeness.  We mature spiritually.

Please know the difference between gathering more Bible knowledge for knowledge sake, and truly following and knowing the real Christ.  Submission.  Yielding.  Surrender, Obedience.  These are the traits of a true Christ-follower. 

The road that we walk with Jesus is narrow for a reason!  It's hard!  It involves dying to self, admitting when we are wrong, and repenting when we feel convicted by the Holy Spirit.

But oh the rewards!  There are plenty here and now.  But don't forget the eternal rewards that Jesus is preparing for us!  Don't think that doing "good deeds" but keeping an unrepentant heart on the inside is garnering you rewards.  It's not. Jesus is all about the heart.

And much of the work that garners our eternal rewards is hidden, done on our knees, wrought with many tears.  The world may or may not notice.  Don't worry.  God is keeping perfect track.

Oh how I look forward to that glorious day!  It will all be worth it - all the pain and suffering we endured for His sake, all the many times and ways we chose repentance - and it will last forever!

Dear Lord.  Please help me keep a humble heart before you, quick to repent.  For it is there that I find Your sweet peace, feel Your warm Presence.  And for those reading this, I pray that they would have the wisdom and sense to repent and choose to truly follow You all their days.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.