Wednesday
Jul302008
Conviction...
Posted on 
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:00AM
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:00AM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul and encourage your faith along the way.
Before I get into my topic, I wanted to remind you of a couple of things. Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card from Caribou Coffee to someone who posts on this blog. Next week I'll announce July's winner. I love to hear from you! There were some incredible comments on last week's post. God is moving in the hearts of His people!
In celebration of my new release, "The Uncommon Woman" I will award a $50.00 VISA gift card to someone who posts in August. Each week I'll post about what it means to be uncommon and I know you've got things to say about that! The call to be uncommon is straight from the Word of God, and I want to hear from you!
Here's another way to win a $50.00 VISA gift card. Read my new book and post a review on Amazon (follow the link above). Email me letting me know you posted your review. One of you will win the gift card. I'll announce that winner in my quarterly E-zine (next issue releases October 15). Want to subscribe? Click here: Susie's Contact Page
Now...On to my topic:
Do you ever find yourself watching the news and wondering how people can do the things they do? I almost can't bear to watch the news before I go to bed at night. If I hear that one more young man has assaulted an elderly woman for the $35.00 she has in her purse, I think I'll have a fit.
I guess we shouldn't be surprised since the Bible tells us that in the last days, people will become lovers of themselves; haters of God; haters of others. Lord, forgive us.
Now let's take a look within the Church. Many are desperate for a fresh revelation of God. Some fumble their way through with their one-foot-in-one-foot-out lifestyles. And still others, are perfectly content to live by the moral code by which they were raised.
In light of the evil that surrounds us, morality and goodness are, well...good, right? Right. These are great things. But as Believers, is it enough to subscribe to a moral code?
What about conviction?
And what's the difference?
I'd say the difference is this: A moral code gives us guidelines in which we live: boundary lines we do not cross; places we would never visit; things we would never do.
Conviction on the other hand, compels us to a much higher standard.
Living simply by a moral code allows you to go on auto-pilot. You do what you should do. You don't do what you shouldn't do. But there's no expectancy, no spiritual tension within you. No readiness to respond to the inner voice that calls you to pick up and do something radical for the sake of obedience and love.
Living by conviction is something different altogether. It's the living breathing voice of the Holy Spirit within us. Sure, we don't do the things we shouldn't, but not because these things are on some sort of list.
We do what we do because we cherish our oneness with God so much that we respond to anything and everything He says to us.
I can't remember if I already shared this on a previous post, so forgive me if you've heard this before. Because I wanted my sons to walk closely with the Lord, and to cherish His voice in their lives, I told them about the 'Conscience Box' analogy when they were very young. This is what I said, "Picture Jesus placing in the center of your heart, a small box with four sharp corners. Whenever you do or say or think something that is different than God would want for you, that little box will turn and prick you. That's how you'll know you're on the wrong track. Listening to Jesus' voice within you is everything! It's a gift to you. If you ignore the little pricks, your ignorance acts like sandpaper, sanding down the corners. And next time you make a wrong choice, you won't feel it as much. Unless you ask for forgiveness and determine to listen when He speaks to you." Jake looked up at me and asked, "Is that why bad guys can kill people without thinking too much about it? Is their conscience box spinning because they're not paying attention to right and wrong?" "That's exactly right" I replied.
The conscience box analogy was something I heard from another mom when my kids were babies.
Conviction makes us uncomfortable. It calls us to care for the weak and the hungry. It spurs us to forgive the unforgivable. It compels us to love the unlovely. Conviction call us to morality, yes. But it also, sometimes, calls us off the beaten path to messy places where faith is required.
Living by a rigid moral code requires that I give my lunch away to someone who needs it.
Conviction leads me to give my lunch to Jesus so that five thousand others might be fed.
To the extent that we listen and obey, is the extent that we will be entrusted to do greater things still. To the extent that we take the time to listen during our prayer times, is the extent that we will recognize God's voice amidst the ruckus of our crazy schedules.
In the Gospel of Matthew we read about a time when Jesus went up in the mountains with Peter, James, and John, and he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as light.
The 'goodness' in Peter compelled him to start talking...and to start doing.
God interrupted Peter's automatic response with these words, "This is My Beloved Son. I am fully pleased with Him. LISTEN TO HIM."
A moral code allows us to act out of instinct. Not such a bad thing.
Conviction compels us to make choices out of the moment-by-moment leading of the Holy Spirit within us. Definitely a better thing.
Daily He's speaking. Daily listen.
Until next week~
Reader Comments (12)
Now that my eyes are fairly tear-free...so a mom shared the conscience box analogy w/ you when your boys were little ones, now you have shared it w/ me. My daughter will be *TEN* in Oct, and I also have girl/boy twins who are 3 1/2. I will teach them this! I'll use drawings, prayers and everything! I, too, will now think of my box inside my heart. It wasn't until late 20's or so for me that I learned of the real battle between the forces of the Holy Spirit inside of me and the still-present selfish flesh.
I'm 33, devote my life to my marriage, children and church..."Balance that Works When Life Doesn't" truly is a Godsend.
Deepest gratitude,Kelly, Ohio
My oldest son is thirteen in a week or so, and we regularly have the conversation, 'just because others do it without a second thought - doesn't mean you can - you're called higher.'
This post really got me this week, because although I didn't do anything wrong - I was trying to be secretive about something to give myself a bit of advantage in a situation I've found myself. And, God is faithful and good, and I got 'caught.' I knew better. We should always walk in the light - with no shadow. I told my husband last night - I should listen to my discussions with my son more often as I relayed the happenings to him.
Just because something's not sin - 'on the list' doesn't mean we aren't called to a higher standard. I needed the underline this week, Susie! Thank you!
Wow, six books??? What a blessing you are to me! I'm so thankful you're enjoying 'The Uncommon Woman.'And I think you are right, the closer we walk with the Lord, the more we live by conviction and less by code.Blessings to you~
Thanks for stopping by and posting a note. And bless you for your kind words!Peace to you~