Conviction

Wednesday, January 18

Conviction
By Melissa Beauvais

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.” James 4:11

Conviction. 
If we’re honest, we all believe that our convictions are the right ones and that everyone should live by them on our terms. We often forget that the Holy Spirit convicts us, not humans.
It is the Holy Spirit who will convict others, not us. While God can use a conversation, a book,  our life choices, and even our moral code of ethics, to shine His light on others around us, it is by His Spirit alone conviction happens. 
So how do we, Christ followers, fit into that equation? 
We love.
We love the way Christ loves us. 
We forgive, just as Jesus forgives us.
We live in a world and culture that can seem upside down and backward. So did Jesus. His radical ways of loving others but living in Truth without diminishing God’s Word challenged people. 
Jesus still challenges us. We need to live radically differently than what the world says to do….while loving them. Recently I heard a pastor say, “Conviction does not dictate our compassion”.

We can live in a world where our convictions are challenged, but do not let the challenge of your conviction sway you to put down, make fun, show favoritism, envy, have unrighteous anger, and keep records of wrong. If you do that, my friends, Paul says you have “nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).  
Live radically different like Jesus. Love the unlovable without letting your truth be swayed.