Handling Conviction Humbly

Have you ever been listening to a sermon or reading a blog and thought, man I really got to share this with "so and so" because they really need to be convicted by this message?  I know for me this is a regular occurrence.  The Pastor will say something that just cuts to the bone and steps on toes everywhere and I'm cheering him on, not because I'm being convicted but because "they" need to be convicted.  Now certainly this is not my reaction to every message, but it's probably more common than I'd like to admit.  I know for me this reaction always comes up when I'm feeling hurt by someone else or are more aware of someone's shortcomings than my own.  I can even begin to pray that they will hear this message and apply it directly to our situation.  Unfortunately this is often the same reaction that they are having towards me.  Both of these reactions miss the point entirely.  These sort of of messages are meant for us and to convict us of our sins.

Many years ago, the story goes that a newspaper posed a question to its readers and asked them to respond.  The question asked something to the effect of, "What is wrong with the world."  Many people responded with various well thought out answers and such.  Then G.K. Chesterton responded with only this, "Dear Sir, I am. Yours, G.K. Chesterton."  Now this story has been told and retold so many times that it is hard to tell where it came from, but the point of it remains.  Inside each of our hearts is the very thing that is wrong with the world.  Our sinful desires, our selfishness, our pride, these are what corrupts the world.  Each of us plays a part in contributing to the corruption of the world.  Recently, an organization put together a website that by plugging in some very basic information allowed you to see your slavery footprint on the world.  It was a humbling look at our own lives contribute to the slavery issue in the world today.  Not only that, but our consuming culture here in the United States constantly desensitizes us to the realities of violence and of the brokenness that accompanies promiscuity.  It is our own hearts where these things begin to sow seeds of corruption.  As Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick, who can understand it?"  It is easy to point to others and say that their sin is what is currently wrong, yet if we are to live with hearts of compassion and with love than we must be able to look into the mirror and answer with Chesterton, "I am the problem with the world."

There is hope for us, however.  This is not a new issue for certainly there is nothing new under the sun.  In the Old Testament Nathan confronts David in a similar fashion.  Nathan crafts this story of two shepherds.  One with many sheep and one with just a single one.  The man with many sheep takes away the one from the other.  As he tells this story to David.  David becomes outraged and wishes to exact justice for the one who was wronged.  David was able to see the injustice of the actions of the rich man, just as we are able to see the injustice committed by others toward ourselves and others.  It's acknowledging the injustice we perpetrate that is difficult for us.  It is hard for us to look in the mirror and acknowledge our own sin before the sins of others.  It wasn't until Nathan responded that David was the transgressor in the story that David realized the extent to what he had done and he became truly repentant and broken.  It is this reaction that we are meant to display when we are confronted with our sin.  David was the King and could have easily ordered Nathan out of his courts and even put to death if he chose.  Instead, he took the path of humility and realized the true wickedness that had taken place in his own heart.  He heeded Nathan's rebuke and applied it to his life, realizing the great need that he had to be reunited with God.

Think back to a time where you were more concerned with the sins of others than your own.  Better yet, think of a time when you were confronted in  your sin.  How did you respond?  I know that when I'm confronted I can often become defensive and try to justify my actions.  Perhaps you have a different reaction maybe you shut down or simply try to ignore the rebukes of others or even question their motives and intentions.  These things keep us locked in the same behaviors and the corruption is allowed to persist.  Yet if we listen with humility it is possible that we can gain insight into areas of our lives that are blind to us.  It was only through David's humility upon being confronted that he was able to have a restored relationship with God.  Similarly if we are to allow the Holy Spirit to work thoroughly in our hearts, than we must react in humility.  We must begin to look at those rebukes as opportunities to draw closer to God rather than pushing them away and holding on to the sinfulness that lies in our heart.  Tim Timmons has this great song called "Starts with me".  He talks about the fact that if we want to start a revival, if we want to change the world, then we must begin with our own hearts.  We must be able to see the gravity of our sin because this leads us to compassion for others and a greater understanding of the gift of Grace.  May we act in humility and in doing so may we receive rebuke with gladness and grace.