Tag: Conviction

Zeal Gone Awry

The trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin is one of the most tragic displays of religious zeal gone wrong. Convinced of their duty to protect God’s honor, the religious leaders allowed their passions and mob mentality to override justice, mercy, and reason. What should have been a trial became a forum for slander, manipulation, and violence, with many of the leaders and bystanders becoming part of a vicious cycle. Jesus, the very person they were supposed to recognize as the Messiah, was instead labeled a blasphemer and beaten in their outrage.

We all have passions and causes we care deeply about. In fact, a righteous zeal can be powerful when we’re moved by a godly cause. But zeal without humility and discernment can lead us to the same dangers faced by the Sanhedrin. Their unwavering conviction left no room for compassion or introspection. How often do we see, even in ourselves, that good intentions and passionate defense of our beliefs can devolve into defensiveness, anger, or even cruelty when we feel challenged?

The actions of the Sanhedrin remind us to remain humble, recognizing that zeal for truth or righteousness must be tempered with God’s Spirit. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, to walk with humility, and to love even our enemies. When we lose sight of these teachings, our own zeal can go awry, blinding us to the heart of God’s message and turning us into people we would later be ashamed to recognize.

We’re called to balance conviction with compassion, courage with humility, and action with prayer. May we be passionate for God’s kingdom and its values, but may we also be vigilant, that we never sacrifice our character in the process. When our hearts are governed by the love of Christ, we can stand firm in the truth without losing our way to the passions that seek to rule us.

Rules to Live By… Literally!

The Law of Moses was not only spiritual but eminently practical, designed to lead to human flourishing. When Nehemiah reflects on the people’s disobedience, he emphasizes that following God’s regulations brought life. This isn’t just because of obedience in the abstract, but because the Law itself was crafted to promote well-being. For Israel, it established principles that affected every aspect of life—hygiene, community health, justice, and economics. God’s commandments weren’t arbitrary; they protected and preserved life. For example, laws around cleanliness, dietary restrictions, and property rights were all geared toward a community that thrived physically, socially, and spiritually.

In Nehemiah’s time, the people’s neglect of these regulations was seen as the root of their misfortune, not because God was eager to punish, but because the natural consequences of disobedience were a breakdown in the fabric of society. The Law represented the very foundation of a life-giving order, and when they abandoned it, chaos ensued. God’s regulations are more than rules—they are guardrails that keep us from driving off the edge of a cliff. This is the heart of what Nehemiah meant by “people will find life if only they obey.”

Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus speaks of bringing life, and life to the fullest. His message, like the Law before Him, was designed to bring healing, hope, and transformation to those who accept it. To those who reject it, however, the result is not life, but condemnation. The Apostle Paul speaks of this contrast clearly in 1 Corinthians 1:18, where he says, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Those who see the Gospel as foolishness miss the life it offers. They reject it in favor of self-reliance or worldly wisdom, but like ignoring the laws of nature, there are inevitable consequences. Following Jesus isn’t just about spiritual salvation, although that is foundational. It’s also about living in alignment with the One who created us and knows what’s best for our flourishing. His teachings on forgiveness, generosity, humility, and love are keys to a life of meaning, joy, and peace. Rejecting this path leads to the opposite—broken relationships, bitterness, and ultimately, death.

The Law of Moses and the Gospel of Christ both offer a way to live in alignment with God’s will. When embraced, they bring life. When rejected, they bring condemnation. But in both cases, God’s desire is not punishment but restoration. The goal has always been that His people would choose life by choosing Him, for His commandments are not burdensome, but a reflection of His love and care for humanity’s well-being.

The Wound That Heals: Conviction vs Condemnation

In Nehemiah 7:4-8:12, we see a powerful moment where the people of Israel come together to hear the Word of God read aloud after years of exile. It’s not just about listening to the words; the people are actively seeking to understand them. Ezra, alongside the Levites, reads and explains the Law to the gathered crowd. Their response is immediate and emotional—they begin to weep. The Word of God has brought deep conviction to their hearts, showing them just how far they’ve strayed.

But here’s the key part: Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites tell the people not to mourn. They say, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep” (Nehemiah 8:9). Although the people are convicted, they are not condemned. The leaders encourage them to move from sorrow to celebration, pointing out that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). This is a perfect picture of how God’s Word works—it reveals where we’ve fallen short but also points us toward God’s grace and restoration.

This passage shows us the value of reading, teaching, and understanding God’s Word in a community. It wasn’t just a private reading of Scripture but a public gathering where the Law was explained clearly so everyone could understand. There’s something powerful about engaging with God’s Word together, where questions can be asked, and insights can be shared. Too often, we read the Bible quickly or casually, but this moment in Nehemiah highlights the importance of understanding, not just hearing, the Word. When we seek to really understand Scripture, it brings clarity and leads to transformation.

What we also see in Nehemiah is the important distinction between conviction and condemnation. Conviction is what happens when God’s Word reveals an area in our lives that needs change. It’s the Holy Spirit showing us our sin so we can repent and turn back to God. Conviction leads to life and growth. Condemnation, on the other hand, leads to shame, guilt, and a sense of hopelessness. It drives us away from God, making us feel like we’re beyond help. But Romans 8:1 reminds us, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Just like in Nehemiah’s time, God’s Word convicts us but doesn’t condemn us.

For Christians today, this is a powerful reminder of how we should approach Scripture. We should let God’s Word bring conviction where it’s needed but always remember that it’s meant to lead us to life, not to drive us into guilt and despair. The people in Nehemiah’s time wept at the realization of their sin, but they were urged to celebrate because God was offering them joy and strength.

As we spend time reading and understanding the Bible, both individually and with others, we open ourselves up to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. We may feel convicted, but that conviction is always accompanied by grace and the opportunity to grow closer to God. That’s the difference between conviction and condemnation—one leads to life and the other to separation from God. The more we engage with God’s Word, the more we realize that conviction is a gift that brings us back into alignment with His will, reminding us of His grace and love.

Consuming Conviction

In Ezekiel 3, we encounter the striking image of the prophet being instructed to eat a scroll. This was not just any scroll but one filled with words of “lamentation and mourning and woe” (Ezekiel 2:10). Despite its bitter content, when Ezekiel obeys and consumes the scroll, it tastes “as sweet as honey” in his mouth (Ezekiel 3:3).

Why would something so bitter taste sweet? The answer lies in the transformative power of God’s word. Ezekiel was being prepared for a difficult task: to speak God’s truth to a rebellious and stubborn people. God knew that for Ezekiel to deliver His message with the necessary conviction and authority, the prophet first needed to fully internalize—consume—God’s word.

This act of consuming the scroll is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a profound spiritual reality. For us today, it highlights the importance of not just reading or hearing God’s word but fully imbibing it, letting it sink deep into our hearts and minds. Only then can we speak with the conviction required to confront a world often resistant to the truth.

In Chapter 2, God warns Ezekiel that the people he is being sent to are obstinate and rebellious. They are not going to be easily swayed by gentle words or half-hearted messages. Ezekiel’s mission was not to comfort them with platitudes but to confront them with the stark reality of their sin and the impending judgment if they did not repent.

This task required more than courage; it demanded a deep, personal conviction that could only come from a profound encounter with God’s truth. Ezekiel’s consumption of the scroll was God’s way of ensuring that His prophet was not merely a mouthpiece but a living embodiment of the message he was to deliver.

In our own lives, we too are called to speak truth in a world that is often rebellious, stubborn, and resistant to God’s word. But before we can do that effectively, we must first consume the truth ourselves. We must allow God’s word to penetrate every part of our being until it becomes a part of us. It is only then that we can speak with the kind of conviction that pierces through the hardened hearts and minds of those around us.

Just as Ezekiel’s message was vital for the people of his time, our message is critical for the people of our time. They, too, are living in rebellion, often unaware of the impending consequences of their actions. We have the responsibility to share God’s truth with them, not timidly, but with boldness and clarity.

But this boldness is not something we can manufacture on our own. It comes from having fully consumed God’s word, allowing it to transform us from the inside out. When we do, our message will be not just words, but life-giving truth that can turn even the most rebellious hearts back to God.

So, let us take the example of Ezekiel to heart. Let us consume the truth of God’s word fully, so that we can speak it with conviction, no matter how rebellious or hostile the audience may be. For in doing so, we fulfill our calling as messengers of God’s unchanging truth in a world that desperately needs to hear it.