A Club or a Staff

Condemnation versus conviction. Many of us may have experienced both at some point in our walk with God.

One of Satan’s biggest weapons against the children of God is condemnation. To condemn means “to pronounce to be guilty, to sentence to punishment, or to pass judgment against.” Condemnation is especially effective against those of us raised on church pews and instructed from our youth in biblical principles.

In Revelation, Satan is called “the accuser of the brethren.” Revelation 12:10 says, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” (KJV).

Condemnation will make us feel hopeless and helpless, a lost cause. Satan will whisper that we can’t make it and are worthless to God’s kingdom because we stumbled or fell.

Dear sister, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (KJV). The club Satan tries to use to beat us down has no power when we remember who we belong to!

Conviction, on the other hand, is rooted in love, not hate. Jesus loves you as His child and wants the best for you. He brings conviction into your life to convince you of a better way. It is the voice of warning we hear before we step in the wrong direction or the godly sorrow that comes when we’ve missed the mark in our walk with God. It calls us to repentance and restoration of our relationship with Him.

When we discipline a child for running towards a busy street, the correction is driven by our love for him. We should be overwhelmingly grateful for the conviction and correction the Holy Ghost brings to us as His children! It’s like a shepherd holding his staff and gently pulling wayward sheep back into his fold.

I encourage you today to let go of the condemnation Satan uses to beat you down. Instead, release it and ask the Good Shepherd to lead and guide you back into His open arms.

PRAYER:

Lord, we know that You came not to condemn the world but that the world through You might be saved. You paid the ultimate price for me. The devil is a liar when he comes in to accuse and drown out Your voice. Help me to hear Your call and run back to you if I wander away from Your will. Amen.