Conviction: January 29, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2014

CONVICTION

DEFINITION:

The feeling of guilt; a firm belief; proving to find guilty.

SCRIPTURE:

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way (Christianity was known as the way of God), whether they be men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Before one can come to know Jesus as one’s personal Savior they must be personally convicted realizing that they are sinners. Then they must ask for forgiveness and ask Jesus to come into their heart.

Most non-believers do not understand what we mean by conviction. The scriptures give us one of the clearest explanations of conviction with the life of Saul. Saul, later known as Paul, was a Jew, not a foreigner. He was born in Tarsus but was raised in Jerusalem because his parents wanted him to be educated in the Mosaic Law by Israel’s greatest teachers (Acts 26:4). Being educated in the strictest of the Jewish Law he became a Pharisee, a small sect of men who were totally dedicated to living out the law (Acts 23:8).

Saul was zealous about keeping the Law and as a practicing Jew he was zealously dedicated to persecute the Christians and the Christian church. He was a man of strong convictions. He sincerely believed that by persecuting believers he was pleasing God. Saul lived and breathed his convictions.  In Acts 9:1-2 we are told (above), he had such a flaming fury against Christ and His disciples that he breathed out threats of slaughter against them and he then acted on them.

Saul actually hunted down believers and led them to be slaughtered. He volunteered to the high priests and the Sanhedrin to go all the way to Damascus to arrest believers, both men and women, and bring them to Jerusalem for trial.

As Saul was walking down the road to Damascus to fulfill his plan to arrest Christian men and women and bring them to Jerusalem for trial, God had other plans for Saul. A bright light shone all around Saul and the men that were with him. It appeared suddenly from heaven, out of nowhere and totally unexpected. It was supernatural and miraculous, totally outshining the sun.

It was a confrontation between Saul and the Lord. Saul saw the appearance of Jesus in His glory and heard a voice speak to him. The men with Saul heard the voice but did not understand the words and they saw no one, only the light. The Lord was delivering a personal message to Saul. Saul was charged with a terrible sin. Opposing and persecuting Jesus Himself.

How many times have you seemingly heard an inner voice trying to convict you of your sin? Jesus called his name twice: “Saul, Saul” showing tenderness, love and concern. Not only was God rebuking Saul but it was an appeal from God for Saul to listen and obey. Saul now realized that it was Jesus he was opposing.

Saul was stricken down, humbled, convicted, and frightened with his encounter with God on the road to Damascus. Saul cried out in desperation, “Who art thou, Lord?” He knew that it was the Lord that he was supposed to know, but he did not personally know Him. He cried out, “tell me Lord, identify yourself, and let me know You.” Saul was “going through the conviction process.”

When Saul realized that in opposing Jesus that he was opposing God Himself, can you imagine the guilt he felt? Saul had been doing what he sincerely believed was right but he was sincerely wrong. He was lost and separated from God, bound for an eternal hell.

All this happened in a few short seconds on the road to Damascus in an encounter between Saul and the Lord. Have you had your personal encounter with God and felt convicted of your sins? Have you acted on your conviction and asked God to forgive you of your sin and accepted Jesus as your Savior?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Mark 16:15.

And Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord for the message of Your love and forgiveness that You have given us in Your Word out of a true life situation on the conviction of Saul. As You spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus may You speak to those in my family that need an encounter with You.