Acting on Conviction

 

    What is conviction?  I think of the Holy Spirit pricking your conscience or people passing a judgment upon you.  The actual definition is a sense of guilt and shame that leads to repentance.  It goes in hand with convince.  Basically it is a feeling that leads to a change that you chose.  Other people may help influence or convince your direction of thought, but the change comes you making the decision.

    People Jews witnessed Ezra's mourning over the unfaithfulness of the nation.  They saw him fast and pray to God.  They may not have completely understood, but they saw a leader openly reveal his heart.  That type of vulnerability and openness to God's instruction leaves an imprint.  It opened the door for the people to listen to what he had to say and follow his example.  There was still hope.

    The nation was convicted of God's truth and expectations of their lives.  They made a covenant with God to send away all the pagan women and their children.  That meant divorcing wives that they loved and disowning their children if they were not willing to follow God.  All the returned exiles had three days to assemble in Jerusalem to make this a national decision.  Whomever refused would be banished forfeiting all they had.  

    Only one man opposed this movement.  His name was Jonathan.  He let his opinion be heard, but it was too late.  The nation was convicted to do whatever it took to have a relationship with God.  It is horrible that it required so many families to be torn apart.  It may never have happened if they had known and understood how God forbade them to marry outside of their faith.

    The change began with the priest, then Levites, then the entertainment, and ended with the people.  It began at the top of the leadership and moved down accordingly.  It could not have been easy, but you have no right to enforce anything if you are not willing to do it yourself.

    We are all called to repentance, but the consequences to sin can be heavy.  It could have been avoided, but the same could be said for our sin.  The consequences may be hard to face.  Divorce and torn families was never a part of God's design or desire.  It is rooted in sin.  Sin always leads to death, destruction, and desolated lives.

Ezra 10