June 8, 2018
Paul said: “If I am
guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die.” Acts25:11
Dieing for a conviction
is far better than living without one.
As Paul faced the trials of Festus & Agrippa, he was
being threatened constantly with capital punishment for standing on his
convictions about Jesus. The Romans didn’t
really have a problem with that (yet), but the Jews saw Paul as a threat to
their country and their control. Through
the interrogations, Roman leaders would look for a bribe or a compromise to get
rid of the problem, but Paul would not compromise his convictions, even if it
meant death.
When you know what you are willing to die for, you have
found what you actually live for. Whatever
you are willing to die over is the object of your worship. Paul demonstrated his conviction to die for
His faith, and that was a powerful testimony to everyone of how committed he
was to Jesus.
Yet many people are less committed to Jesus, and more
committed to their own personal safety.
Fear of the unknown keeps followers from taking a mission trip, holding
back on giving radically, delay serving in a ministry, or inviting a friend to
church. It is also fear that keeps
people from forgiving a hurt or sharing compassion for a need. These are people who would rather live
without a complete conviction, and find themselves compromising through life
instead of living a holy life.
If you wrote out a short list of the things you were willing
to die for, what would it contain? Maybe
take some time to consider that question and draw some convictions out of
it. Find out what you are willing to die
for, and you’ll discover what you’re living for. If it needs changed, then start making
changes in your convictions.
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