Personal Convictions
“For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.” Romans 14:2-3
Personal convictions are very important in the life of a Christian. To believe in God’s righteousness is to care about our lives in His sight. But it must be remembered that personal convictions are just that, they are personal. Whenever we try to make our personal convictions the public norm, we run into problems. We must remember that our personal convictions are to be between us and our Master. We must do all we can to make sure they are approved of by Him, for the judgment’s sake and our testimony of faith. For if God approves them not, they are just weights that easily beset us.
For the most part, personal convictions are made up largely from our own person: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 It must be remembered, that at best, our person is still incomplete and is still yet to discover more things than we now know.
Personal convictions do not necessarily imply Christianity proper. People of heathen religions have personal convictions. The Pharisees had personal convictions, and because of these, they were given to finding fault against Christ and His disciples. Job’s friends had personal convictions, and due to their convictions, they deemed Job to be “unholy” and under Divine judgments for ungodliness. Peter had very high convictions about loyalty to Christ, unto death. And it was his personal convictions that got in his way of doubting himself enough to fully surrender himself to the admonitions of Christ, and thus Satan took advantage of him. When we become driven by our own personal opinions, we are wide open prey for Satan to sift us as wheat.
Due to personal convictions, some view a ministry to be too strict, while others view the same ministry to be too lenient. There is no way to form a bond of unity out of a mix of people’s personal convictions.
Real unity, and things done in a way that is expedient for the Lord’s work, comes to pass from the fruit of the Holy Spirit working within. People who live right and make decisions that honor God and build up His work, do so, not because of self-assertiveness, but by forsaking their own thoughts and ways, unto becoming directed by the Holy Spirit in what they are doing. Due to parties with strong personal convictions, the church can be sharply divided. But due to submission to the Holy Spirit, unity, growth, and fellowship abounds. BE CAREFUL! By personal convictions, we can be a more conscientious Christian, or become a law to ourselves, hardened in our own conceits!
SHARING
Men Who Paid Freedom’s Price
Our nation’s founding fathers knew how to count the cost of liberty.
On July 7, 1776, there was signed in the City of Philadelphia one of America’s historic documents: the Declaration of Independence. It marked the birth of this nation which, under God, was destined for world leadership.
We often forget that, in declaring independence from an earthly power, our forefathers made a forthright declaration of dependence upon Almighty God. The closing words of this document solemnly declare:
“With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
The fifty-six courageous men who signed that document understood that this was not just high-sounding rhetoric. They knew that if they succeeded, the best they could expect would be years of hardship in a struggling new nation. If they lost, they would face a hangman’s noose as traitors.
Of the fifty-six, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes, from Rhode Island to Charleston, sacked, looted, occupied by the enemy, or burned. Two lost their sons in the army. One had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six died in the war, from its hardships or from its bullets.
Whatever ideas you have of the men who met that hot summer in Philadelphia, it is important that we remember certain facts about the men who made this pledge: they were not poor men, or wild-eyed pirates. They were men of means; rich men, most of them, who enjoyed much ease and luxury in their personal lives. Not hungry men, but prosperous men, wealthy landowners, substantially secure in their prosperity, and respected in their communities.
But they considered liberty much more important than the security they enjoyed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. They fulfilled their pledge. They paid the price. And freedom was won.
Someone has said, “To be born free is a privilege. To die free is an awesome responsibility.”
Yet freedom is never free. It is always purchased at great cost.
Little did John Adams know how significant his words would be when he spoke to his wife, Abigail, on the passing of the Declaration of Independence and said, “I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states; yet, through all the gloom I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means.”
To those who sacrificed for our freedom, the end was worth the painful means. Where would we, who are citizens of the United States of America, be today if there had not been those who counted the cost of freedom and willingly paid for it? Where will we be tomorrow if men and women of integrity do not come forward today and pay the price to reclaim a dying America?
–Unknown
“Posterity–you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” –John Quincy Adams
“What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a price upon its goods, and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.” –Thomas Payne, 1776
SHARINGSaul’s Loss Of Grip On His Life
Saul’s Glorious Start
1 Samuel 10:9 God gave him another heart.
1 Samuel 11:6 He was backed by God when rightly engaged.
1 Samuel 11:12-13 He was sustained by grace, rising above human passions and faults.
How He Chose To Define Himself When He Was Strong
1 Samuel 13:11-13 He was unafraid to set his own boundaries and draw his own lines.
1 Samuel 14:24 He exercised judgment according to his own feelings, that lacked consideration for the interests of others.
1 Samuel 15:13 He was unafraid to declare his actions to be right, even when they were in violation of God’s command.
The Effects Of His Self Determination
1 Samuel 16:14 He was troubled in spirit; no longer being kept with the joy and peace of the Lord.
1 Samuel 17:32-58 He was sidelined by God; no longer being used of God to advance the cause of Israel.
1 Samuel 18:8-9 Bad feelings began to arise within him towards those whom God was using.
1 Samuel 18:21 He became deceitful in his dealings with the faithful.
1 Samuel 19:1 He openly announces his opposition to David; uses his status as king to be the authority to destroy David.
1 Samuel 19:9-10 His evil spirit continues to dominate and drive him.
1 Samuel 19:11 Saul has no room in his heart for reconciliation; only to go to war against David.
1 Samuel 22:17-19 Saul considers anyone who doesn’t side with him to be his mortal enemy.
1 Samuel 24 & 26 Being openly reproved, he admits wrong doing; yet would not humble himself before God unto seeking forgiveness and submission.
1 Samuel 31 Being wounded in a losing battle, he chose to end his own life.
When Saul lost sight of God’s purpose for his life, he lost his way in living his life.
Out of his own mouth: “I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” 1 Samuel 26:21
He Was Willing To Do It All For Us
“Let this mind be in you…” Philippians 2:5
He divested Himself of all personal honor: “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant…” Philippians 2:7
His service to God was unconditional: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death…” Philippians 2:8
He thus qualified for the highest exaltation: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” Philippians 2:9
Christ’s experience in fulfilling God’s will was that NOTHING WORKED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO!
Instead of rejoicing over His birth, the powers that were sought His death, Matthew 2.
Instead of being supported by family members, His brethren held Him in contempt, John 7:3-5.
His own countrymen had no use for Him, John 1:11. Instead of memorializing Him, they hung Him on a cross.
The religious leaders of Christ’s day perverted their knowledge of the scriptures to becoming an excuse to destroy Him rather than receive Him as their Saviour and Lord, John 11:49-53.
Rather than the judicial authorities exonerate Him of all the baseless, hateful, false accusations made against Him, it rather betrayed His innocence due to political pressure, John 19:1-16.
Rather than the news media report the undeniable truth of His resurrection, they were complicit in changing the story to a lying narrative to further their claims of Christ and His followers to just be a bunch of Bible thumping liars and deceivers (deplorables), Matthew 28:11-15.
Thus, as far as the response of the people to Christ, they let the truth fall in the streets and then bent their tongues like bows for their lies, not being valiant for the truth.
Even though nothing worked like it was supposed to work, Christ never wavered from fulfilling the will of the Father.
THIS IS THE MIND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS IS TO BE IN US! Be sure we will all be tested as to whether we are of this mind. This mind is not just unique to certain ones, but is the result of having the frame of mind to draw as near to God as opportunity affords. We must never think we have enough and don’t need anything more than our own judgments of our own self sufficiency.
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12
SHARINGMaintaining Uprightness Of Faith
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24
This is not a presentation of self-righteous perfection. That is a religious illusion of self-exalted thinking. No matter how spiritually advanced one may be, they are still of finite mind and imperfect flesh. “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 “And if any man think he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Corinthians 8:2
But God doesn’t forsake us to flounder in failure, or appoint us to be overwhelmed unto confusion and offense. We can see the fleshly imperfection of God’s Biblical servants. But we see differences. Some underwent their ups and downs while keeping their heart open to God and their eyes to discern His will. They remained constant in their determination to press on for the Lord. Whereas others never seemed to recover from their failures, but just continued to play the fool until there was no remedy. These differences are seen to be with what lies within what the people involved could control, rather than with that over which they had no control. Thus, the degree to which Christians overcome is seen to be in direct proportion to how they exercise their faith in God to obtain His deliverance through grace.
With these things in mind, the need is for Christians who exercise faith in their own decision and determination to remain on course with the Lord. Galatians 2:9 refers to James, Cephas, and John, “…who seemed to be pillars…” Their determination and consistency became a challenge to others, making a positive impression. No doubt many sins were discouraged by their teachings and stand that “…cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God.” No doubt many recovered from discouragement through seeing their steadfastness and undying hope. No doubt many a sour disposition was neutralized through being made ashamed by seeing their joy in being counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ.
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30 God is looking for those who choose not to fall through the cracks, who won’t allow themselves to be swallowed up in bitterness and resentment, who will not permit themselves to abandon their responsibility to the will and way of God. His eyes are ever searching for the true, wholehearted person, 2 Chronicles 19:9.
It is within the grasp of real Christians to become that beloved servant. Fellow Christians are refreshed by such spiritual vitality. This is an unmistakable witness to the lost, and the rewards are unspeakable.
SHARING
