Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

Once a person buys into a lie, they will begin to spread the lie because they are convinced they are right. Some of these people are very convincing. I have no desire that you would be deceived. If the Holy Spirit resides in you, check for truth in anything said or done.

Persuasion has been a part of all religions from the beginning of time. What makes saving faith different is that it will seek things that are Christ’s.

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

I quoted many issues that follow this verse earlier. I repeat it now for the purpose of highlighting perilous times. What last days means in context is meaningless if this moment in your life is when you need to make a choice about your salvation. There will be many who seek their own voice, beliefs and following. They are building a following rather than showing you the door to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

If you hear these words, if you can see them as pointing to Jesus, then choose the words of saving faith. Know with all certainty what is expected. Nothing less than total surrender to Christ as Lord is accepted.

Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Do not call out from your side, “Wait a minute while I straighten up.” Open the door and He will help you clean up.

In the beginning of Matthew 25 is the story of ten virgins. Five got to enter in, five remained behind closed doors. They waited too long.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Acts 26:27-28 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Paul almost convinced King Agrippa to be a Christian. If he had, would Agrippa been saved? I say no. This devotional is about Convinced Vs Convicted.

John 8:4-9  They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

It is a common teaching that Jesus wrote each man’s sin on the ground. It was His awareness of their sins which convicted them. It was sin being exposed within their hearts by the Lord which caused them to turn, cast their stones aside, and forsake judgement.

We know we are sinners when we sin. When we were lost in our sins, it was something we lived with because we could. It is when the Holy Spirit, the agent of truth exposes our sins and we come to know we have been convicted by God Himself, that we truly repent of sin.

Man can convince you that you are a sinner but if God does not convict you, then any exhibit of faith on your part is not a saving faith. Saving faith is a convicting faith.