Do You Have a Death Sentence

I was recently convicted.  

That is my actions were challenged and my thoughts were tested. The Holy Spirit was using others to tug at my heart, not to make me feel guilty but to move me to change. 

After an argument with hubs I had some women speak into me about ways that I was behaving that were not too far from his behaviors. But let me stop there. 

When these women were speaking into my life, they had no idea what had happened the night before with Sean. And yes, I became furiously defensive. How dare you point out my obvious flaws?! How dare you make me think about how I need to change?!  

YIKES!!!  

That's what conviction is by definition; the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says. 

When we are being challenged by other believers, friends that have walked alongside of you it's difficult not to listen. It's difficult not to find meaning and substance in areas in which you have been called out. 

But it was good for me to sit in my stuff and to take the log out of my own eye. I was granted the opportunity to ask forgiveness to Sean. I say opportunity because that's exactly what forgiveness was for Jesus! 

He hung on a cross to give me the opportunity to have life. He saved me from my death sentence! 

Ultimately, our sins equal death (Romans 6:23). Ultimately, everything we do without a conviction to change, everything we continue to do without repentance will boil down to a death sentence. The sentence for my sins is death. However, because of the free gift of forgiveness that Christ has given me when he died on the cross I have been taken off death row (Titus 3:5). I now have life. 

See, if I was left to process that on my own without anyone to hold me accountable then I would not have asked for forgiveness. I would have avoided the conflict and dwelled in denial. I would have turned to others to gossip with, to give me a pat on the back and make me feel right even if I was clearly wrong. 

I'm thankful for the way I was saved. I am thankful for the women in my life that have pushed me to be better. I am thankful for being spurred on in my marriage, to grow, make my life healthier, and build a deeper relationship with Christ.  

So go forth and be convicted!