Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.
All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes
someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do
anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you
believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one
who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned
if they eat, because their eating is not from faith, and everything that does
not come from faith is sin.1
A person of conviction is sure that his values are true. In
contrast, many people choose to believe something based on conditions and
circumstances. And if those situations change, so do opinions and loyalty.
Let us look at two men in the Bible who stood firm in their
convictions.
Despite years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in
his principles. As a result, He was in the right place at the right time to
ensure the survival of Israel (Genesis 50:20).
Daniel, another righteous man who lived in an idolatrous
land, gained the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Daniel
1:19-20).
As these heroes of faith demonstrate, convictions resist
shifting winds of opinion and persuasive arguments. If we are rooted in the Word of God and trust what He has said, we can stand firm. Trust gives us the courage
to remain strong in the midst of conflict.
Instead of following your own preferences, choose to live
with godly convictions and the values that the Bible says are most important.
Through prayer and studying the Bible, the Heavenly Father will root us firmly
in solid biblical convictions that will withstand the pressures of any trial.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You
today to help me through Your Holy Spirit to stand firm in my convictions based
on Your Word. May it not be what I think or what others think, but may it be
Your Word guiding my life and my decisions. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
1.
Romans 14:20-23 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.