Convictions. It’s an old-fashioned word that we don’t hear much anymore. I’m not referring to the legal term. What I’m referring to is synonymous with a principle. As such, a conviction is more than a like or a dislike which can easily change over time. Convictions go much deeper than that. They are strongly-held beliefs which, when set, do not change much, if at all. This makes convictions important from the standpoint that they provide boundaries in our lives. They control and shape our behavior.
The importance of a conviction is seen in the life of Daniel. In Daniel 1, after being chosen for a 3-year training program to become a royal official, Daniel and the rest of the trainees were given meat and wine. In other words, they ate very well. This brings us to verse 8. “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine..” The King James translation says that Daniel "purposed in his heart". For some reason (we are not told and so we can only guess) Daniel and his 3 Jewish friends did not want to eat the meat and drink the wine of the king. Most likely this was because they wanted to continue to follow the Jewish dietary laws as found in the Law of Moses and the meat & drink may also have been offered to idols first. So Daniel requested that he and his friends be given vegetables and water for 10 days. At the end of this trial period Daniel and his 3 friends appeared to be healthier than all the rest of the trainees so they were allowed to continue their unique diet. The point is that Daniel had a conviction that even though he lived in a foreign country he was still going to be follow God. And God rewarded Daniel and his friends for that conviction.
As I survey the Christian landscape today, it appears that convictions have gone by the wayside. In word and deed there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the way that Christians live and the way that the world lives. The viewing of pornography, involvement with premarital sex and the divorce rate are almost even in both groups. What I believe is missing is Biblical convictions. Without these convictions to guide us we are going to live exactly like the world.
How does God feel about this? In I John 2:15 we are warned, “Do not love the world nor the things of the world.” In Colossians 3:17 we are told that “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” These and many verses like them tell us that there ought to be a distinct difference in the way that we, as Christians, live from the world. This is known as the doctrine of holiness, or being ‘set apart’.
As I examine my own life I find that I have a fair amount of convictions, convictions which I have attempted to live by over the years. Some of these convictions are:
- I will not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs
- I will not watch movies that are rated PG-13 or R
The importance of a conviction is seen in the life of Daniel. In Daniel 1, after being chosen for a 3-year training program to become a royal official, Daniel and the rest of the trainees were given meat and wine. In other words, they ate very well. This brings us to verse 8. “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine..” The King James translation says that Daniel "purposed in his heart". For some reason (we are not told and so we can only guess) Daniel and his 3 Jewish friends did not want to eat the meat and drink the wine of the king. Most likely this was because they wanted to continue to follow the Jewish dietary laws as found in the Law of Moses and the meat & drink may also have been offered to idols first. So Daniel requested that he and his friends be given vegetables and water for 10 days. At the end of this trial period Daniel and his 3 friends appeared to be healthier than all the rest of the trainees so they were allowed to continue their unique diet. The point is that Daniel had a conviction that even though he lived in a foreign country he was still going to be follow God. And God rewarded Daniel and his friends for that conviction.
As I survey the Christian landscape today, it appears that convictions have gone by the wayside. In word and deed there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the way that Christians live and the way that the world lives. The viewing of pornography, involvement with premarital sex and the divorce rate are almost even in both groups. What I believe is missing is Biblical convictions. Without these convictions to guide us we are going to live exactly like the world.
How does God feel about this? In I John 2:15 we are warned, “Do not love the world nor the things of the world.” In Colossians 3:17 we are told that “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” These and many verses like them tell us that there ought to be a distinct difference in the way that we, as Christians, live from the world. This is known as the doctrine of holiness, or being ‘set apart’.
As I examine my own life I find that I have a fair amount of convictions, convictions which I have attempted to live by over the years. Some of these convictions are:
- I will not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs
- I will not watch movies that are rated PG-13 or R
(exception: movies where there is no overt sexual content, swearing, etc.)
- I will not swear or take God’s name in vain
- I will not cohabitate before marriage
- I will not call Beth names/yell at her/verbally or physically abuse her
- I will not talk bad about Beth to my children or to others
- we will not sleep in separate beds (except if ill)
- I will not go on welfare
- God will come before my work
- I will spend time w/my wife and children
- I will make the church & its ministries a priority in my life
- I will tithe off the gross
Now, since these are my own personal convictions they may or may not be the same as yours. The point is that my convictions are either found directly in God’s Word or implied. Over the years they have helped me live a life of integrity - a life that honors God and others.
The fact is that, as Christians, we all ought to have some convictions of our own. There ought to be things that we either do or don’t do simply because of our faith. Biblical convictions have great value in that they help us to live a godly life. If we don’t have any Biblical convictions the world will be only too happy to supply us some of theirs! The reality is that the people of the world have all kinds of convictions (safe sex is OK, ditto for homosexuality, abortion, cohabitation, etc.) The problem is that their convictions don’t come from the Bible and they do not glorify God.
Now that my children are grown and out of the house, and raising families of their own, I am glad to see that they have taken many (though not all) of my convictions as their own. These convictions will help keep them from wrong choices and wrong behaviors. It will help them live a life that is pleasing to God.
Lord, thank you for the truth that is found in Your Word. Help me to understand the necessity of having good, Biblical convictions - what they can do for me and for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- I will not swear or take God’s name in vain
- I will not cohabitate before marriage
- I will not call Beth names/yell at her/verbally or physically abuse her
- I will not talk bad about Beth to my children or to others
- we will not sleep in separate beds (except if ill)
- I will not go on welfare
- God will come before my work
- I will spend time w/my wife and children
- I will make the church & its ministries a priority in my life
- I will tithe off the gross
Now, since these are my own personal convictions they may or may not be the same as yours. The point is that my convictions are either found directly in God’s Word or implied. Over the years they have helped me live a life of integrity - a life that honors God and others.
The fact is that, as Christians, we all ought to have some convictions of our own. There ought to be things that we either do or don’t do simply because of our faith. Biblical convictions have great value in that they help us to live a godly life. If we don’t have any Biblical convictions the world will be only too happy to supply us some of theirs! The reality is that the people of the world have all kinds of convictions (safe sex is OK, ditto for homosexuality, abortion, cohabitation, etc.) The problem is that their convictions don’t come from the Bible and they do not glorify God.
Now that my children are grown and out of the house, and raising families of their own, I am glad to see that they have taken many (though not all) of my convictions as their own. These convictions will help keep them from wrong choices and wrong behaviors. It will help them live a life that is pleasing to God.
Lord, thank you for the truth that is found in Your Word. Help me to understand the necessity of having good, Biblical convictions - what they can do for me and for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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