Bible Reading: Ezra 4. 2 Timothy 1:11-18
“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” – 2 Timothy 1:13 (KJV).
The conviction that drives one’s life determines the kind of life, the quality of life and who or what one lives for. Our values in life are determined to a large extent by our convictions. One’s conviction may be strong or weak and how strong one’s conviction is will determine one’s passion in driving or upholding such conviction.
Apostle Paul was fully persuaded in his belief in Christ and in his calling and purpose in life. He declared that he was not ashamed to identify with Christ and the gospel. His conviction was so strong that he was willing to suffer and be ridiculed for his faith. Not even death was strong enough to weaken his drive, for he was not only prepared to suffer for the gospel but equally ready to die for it.
Here, he admonishes his mentee, Timothy to do his best to hold firmly to sound words and values he has received from him. He points out that faith and love are required to uphold the words of God. Where faith or love is weakened, upholding the word becomes difficult.
There is the need for this admonishing, understanding that trials, persecutions and temptations will often come to attack one’s conviction.
Faced with trials, John the Baptist began to doubt his conviction of Jesus as Messiah. He heard a clear prophetic word and signs to confirm the Messiah and he confessed that he saw those signs and prophetic words come to pass. With such strong conviction, he declared to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one. He publicly proclaimed and introduced Jesus as the Messiah without fear or any doubt. Faced with death, the same John began to waver in his conviction. He sent his disciples to confirm from Jesus if he was truly the Messiah.
It is easy to doubt in the dark what one believed in the light. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” James 1:8 (KJV). To make for stability of faith and a life of kingdom exploits, one should endeavour to hold firmly to one’s convictions. Always remember, God can be trusted. There is no shadow of turning with Him.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to hold fast to my Christian convictions.
Rev. Vincent Diolu