What makes one bold? In my experience, boldness comes from conviction. If I am convicted by something, I am able to be bold about that thing because I not only believe it to be true, but also know morally, it is the right thing. I discipline my children, not because I have to, but because I am convicted in the belief that if they are disciplined properly, they will grow up to be respectful adults. Generally, people are kind to others. Not because we have to, but because we are convicted in the idea that if we treat others well, we will be treated well and society, minus a few exceptions, will be a kind place to live in. What makes conviction work is action. It is not enough to just believe that it is right to treat people well, one must act and treat people well.

This line of thought is the same in our spiritual walk. When we read the scriptures, we see people’s conviction of the gospel message through their actions after coming to Christ. Think of the Samaritan woman who, despite her sinful life, was convicted and helped bring an entire city to the truth of Jesus Christ. Think of Zacchaeus who, despite being a thief despised by the people, was convicted and paid back anyone he stole from four times what he had taken. Think of Paul who, despite his high standings in society, was convicted and preached the gospel, bringing hundreds if not thousands of souls to God through Jesus Christ. The actions of these three people proved their conviction in what was true and morally correct and through their actions, they brought people to Christ.

Conviction and faith go hand in hand according to Hebrew 11. My challenge this week is for us to act on our conviction in Christ and His message. Through our action we will show our faith to those we come in contact with and possibly play a solid role in bringing a soul to God. 

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:20-23