Romans 14:20-23
A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his or her beliefs are true. Today, most people would rather live by preferences than by convictions. They choose to believe something based on conditions and circumstances. When situations change, so does their loyalty. Many people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve
Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women depicted in Scripture. Despite years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles. As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure the survival of Israel (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man living in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:19-20). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (Dan. 3:29)
As these biblical heroes show, godly convictions withstand the changing winds of opinion and the persuasive arguments of opponents. If we’re grounded in the Word and trust what God has said, we can stand firm in our beliefs. Confidence breeds the courage to remain strong amid the conflicts entering our lives
Instead of following your own preferences, choose to live a life ruled by godly convictions. Scripture says much about what’s most important in life. See if God’s principles and promises hold true. Through prayer and study, allow the heavenly Father to firmly root you in solid biblical convictions.
Our culture is obsessed with longevity. While the desire for a lengthy existence of good quality is natural, it’s also shortsighted. The Bible does emphasize living a godly life now. But it also contains numerous reminders that believers will remain after this old world is gone.
No pill or diet can extend our days on earth beyond the number God has willed. But we can live forever in a flawless home with a perfected body, doing soul-satisfying work. When we believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son and trust Him as our Savior, we receive the gift of eternal life. Believers get to spend eternity serving and fellowshipping with the Lord.
Although followers of the Son of God are promised a place in heaven, eternal life isn’t really about location. The true value of having a soul that never dies is that we are always in the presence of God. For those who reject the offer of everlasting life with the Lord, there is an alternative. We call it hell. The souls ending up there suffer a terrible fate—agony and complete separation from the living God. After death, no mercy or grace can bridge the gap between hell and heaven. The matter must be settled while we are on earth (Heb. 9:27).
Eternal life is irrevocably linked to the person of Jesus Christ. As John wrote, “He who has the Son has the life” (1 John 5:12). Reaching a healthy old age is a laudable goal, but nothing’s more important than receiving the Savior and the gift of eternity in His presence.
The more skilled you are at a task, the more you enjoy it. When an orchestra adeptly plays a masterpiece, an accomplished musician will derive greater pleasure from listening than would a person with an untrained ear. You might be surprised to learn the same is true of giving.
God has many reasons for us to give. First, returning a portion of our wealth to the Lord acknowledges that everything actually belongs to Him (Ps. 50:10). Second, giving is a way to demonstrate that we are obeying Him (Deut. 16:17). Third, contributing to a ministry or helping the needy is participation in kingdom work, which brings us deep joy. Fourth, our offerings are an opportunity for God to reveal His character to us and those around us; as we demonstrate generosity, He faithfully provides for our needs and blesses us abundantly (2 Cor. 9:8). Over and over again, the saying “You can’t outgive God” proves true.
Giving involves more than our money. God has blessed us with talents, time, and resources—along with plenty of opportunities to share them with others. It’s important to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance to know what, to whom, and how much we should give.
Remember, the Lord is continuously giving to us: salvation, comfort, encouragement, life, and countless other blessings. We’re indebted to Him and should give back, not out of obligation but with a heart of gratitude and joy (2 Cor. 9:7). Ask God to reveal any selfishness or other hindrance to sharing—and to help you become more skilled at giving.
Prayer is the Christian’s most powerful God-given means for effecting change. Yet we’re often hesitant about our appeals.
But we should be confident in prayer, primarily because of the knowledge that we belong to God’s family (John 1:12). When we received Jesus Christ as Savior, God became our heavenly Father. As a result, we can be absolutely sure He will hear our prayers (1 John 5:14).
We have additional reason for confidence when we pray according to God’s will. Some things never fit His plan, such as lying, cheating, and actions prompted by pride, malice, or rage (Prov. 6:16-19; Col. 3:8). Insignificant matters like which color to wear or common-sense decisions like using a seatbelt are left to our discretion. But what about desires in other categories?
- To know God’s will, our spirit must be submitted to God (James 4:7). In advance of His answer, we must release our grip on outcomes we want and be willing to say yes to His plan.
- We study the Scriptures, where God’s general will is revealed through commands and principles. Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
- We must depend on the Holy Spirit to help us pray in agreement with the Lord’s purposes (Rom. 8:26).
Believer, change your praying from timid to bold by aligning your prayers with God’s will and remembering He wants to say yes to His children.
We like to keep things simple: Follow a few steps and reach the preferred result. Prayer, however, cannot be reduced to an easy formula. It isn’t some static activity where repeating certain words brings the desired solution. It’s ongoing communication with the heavenly Father and should involve listening, speaking, and acting on what we hear from Him.
God has promised to answer His children’s prayers, but He often waits before responding. He does so for many reasons.
Preparation. Sometimes God has to make us ready for what He wants to give us. We may have some attitudes or behaviors not aligned with His will (James 4:3). He’ll deal with them before He gives us His gift.
Spiritual growth. The Lord may use delays to test our faith or deepen our relationship with Him. No response from Him means He wants us to continue to seek Him and converse with Him.
Timing. God’s timetable often doesn’t match ours. He knows what He wants to accomplish in our spiritual life and in our relationship with Him. We can trust that He will put to good use the time between our request and His reply.
God includes delays as part of the believer’s prayer life. Sometimes He answers our first request, but often it takes several petitions before He responds. In certain situations, we have to keep knocking—as the persevering widow did—before God gives us His answer. (See Luke 18:1-8.)
Jesus calls us to a lifestyle of “asking, seeking, and knocking”—a lifestyle based on trust in God’s promise to answer His children. Are you persistent?
