Tag: conviction

The Same God

Psalms 81, 88, 92-93

1 Chronicles 7-8

Today’s reading takes us across several different life experiences many (if not all) Christians also experience in today’s modern world:

  • Psalm 81 is a reflection of God’s provision for Israel, and a reminder of the good things they could be experiencing if they would only listen to Him.  
  • Psalm 88 is an example of low places so many of us have experienced in our Christian walk.  The writer is calling out to God to save them from suffering, to answer their prayers, and to bring them comfort in a place of loneliness. It is a lamentation and pouring out of a soul that is broken and hurting.  
  • Psalm 92 is a psalm of praise and excitement over the wonderful works of God!  This author is experiencing joy and astonishment over a Heavenly Father, and being sure to sing it loud and proud!
  • Psalm 93 is another praiseful psalm that focuses more on the sovereignty of God and His mighty power, recognizing the strength of God and His position over the entire earth. 

While each of these Psalms hold different perspectives of a human’s viewpoint of God, we can also see how in each of these, God’s unchanging, steadfast, supreme authority remains.  No matter what our current reflection of God is, He has never become anything but God.  Whether we are disobedient, hurting, praising, or fully recognizing His power, God is still, and has always been, the Creator, Yahweh, the One True God.  The God who formed and controls every aspect of the earth, that pulled the Israelites out of Egypt, and held them accountable to His commands, is the SAME GOD that you and I worship today.  

This fact can (and probably should) be both comforting and convicting.  Comforting because there is an amazing God who loves us with an everlasting love that will never change from that! Convicting because there is a powerful God, who has high expectations for believers, that won’t change from that either.  As Christians today, I believe we must consistently balance these feelings of comfort and conviction in order to best live out our days.

-Sarah Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. Using the four options listed, what would you classify as your current reflection of God in this season?  Are you content to have that reflection?
  2. What verses most stood out to you from the reading?  Why do you think those verses impacted you the most today?
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I Will

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 22 & 23

Poetry: Psalm 101

New Testament: 1 Timothy 5

If you have the time today I would like you to read through Psalm 101 before reading this and then read it again after. 

Psalm 101 speaks of integrity.  It’s pretty clear-cut, in the ESV version, the Psalm is even called “I will walk with integrity”.  The way it’s put there speaks to me, it isn’t saying “I should”, there is no question in that statement, “I will walk with integrity”.  I’ll wrap back to the part about integrity later.

First, I want to focus on a phrase. Throughout the whole Psalm, the phrase that we read over and over is “I will”.  Throughout the world, and even in myself, I don’t hear that sort of conviction in daily life.  “I will” is substituted for “I might”, “I could”, etc.  These all convey a sense of being able to back out.  Even the term “I can” lacks the certainty that “I will” has.  “I can” can mean that you can but lack the conviction to do it.  And taking it a step further, even the phrase “I will” can lack conviction.  For example “I will go take out the trash” or “I will drive you to school”.  In Psalm 101 it’s a much different form of “I will” from those.  

So we have conviction, but for what? As said before with the heading, integrity.  When I  search for the definition of the word “integrity”, I get this in response, “integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” I think this definition has been generalized for the public and for the rest of the world.  The word moral can be subjective in exactly what it entails.  I think we as Christians have a great example of what to look for in integrity though, Psalm 101.  It lays out our “moral principles” pretty well throughout it.  Which I think makes it a great thing to read and study. 

 As I said at the start, I would challenge you to read Psalm 101 again.  But this time, focus on the conviction behind it, and look at the integrity it talks about.  Take it one line at a time and dwell on what is said. 

-Philip Kirkpatrick

Reflection Questions

  1. What are you convicted about doing?
  2. What “I will” statements do you find in Psalm 101? Which do you already feel strongly about and would also say, “I will…”? Which seem like wise statements but you could use more conviction in this area to move from “I should” or “I can” to “I will”? Pray about these.
  3. How would you rate your own integrity? What do you admire about people you know with strong moral principles? What is God looking for as far as integrity goes?
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Beware of Bad Company

Romans 14-16

1stCor15

Saturday June 17

 

Romans 16:17-19

17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

When I was a teenager, I explored many different groups of friends.  I would get really close with a circle of people and then move on to the next, checking out different types of people.   Over the years in high school, I formed an eclectic group of friends and I found this verse to be true: “Do not be deceived, ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” I Corinthians 15:33.  The Bible talks a lot about this.  Whatever you are watching or reading, it will get into your mind and come out of your mouth.  The same goes with who you surround yourself.  If your friends are loose morally, your attitude and standards will be affected negatively.  Often, we can get into a trap of thinking we are stronger than those around us…but more often than not, this is not true!

Paul understood this when he admonished the Romans to watch those who caused trouble and said things against what they had been taught.  He knew that those people had not made Jesus Christ their lord and only cared about their own selfish desires.  Those types of people can deceive you away from the truth and cause all sorts of evil.  Paul wanted them to be wise in the things of God which are good and have no knowledge of evil.

I remember a time during my sophomore year in high school that I hung out with some kids who were drinking.  I didn’t know how much they had to drink but I ended up in the back seat of a car packed with kids and quickly became aware that the driver was drunk by his erratic driving.   I was scared!  I remember praying desperately to God to save me and protect me.  He did and I made it home safely but I was shaken up.  I shouldn’t have been in that situation or hanging out with the kind of kids that would drink and then drive putting many lives at risk.  The friends I had at that time had loosened my convictions and I was in uncharted, ungodly territory.

What I have learned over the years of my life is that you want people that will bring you up and not down.  Choose friends that will make you better for God and stronger, ones that will admire your solid convictions and morals.  I married my husband, Sean, because he did this for me.  He pushed me in areas that I was weak and inspired me to work harder and be better for God.  Below are some verses that talk about the consequences of the company you keep.

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

1 Corinthians 5:11

But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler–not even to eat with such a one.

Proverbs 14:7

Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

Psalm 26:4-5

I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders. I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.

Psalm 1:1-4

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Proverbs 22:24-25

Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

1 Corinthians 5:6

Your boasting is not good Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.

 

Ruth Finnegan

 

(photo credit: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/06/23/top-7-bible-verses-about-morality/)