Tuesday, November 15, 2022

November 15, 2022

Convictions, when they’re well placed, can be so powerful. 

I would like to say I have stood for every conviction I’ve had, but that wouldn’t be entirely honest. There have been times when I stood for what I thought was right only to find out that the conviction wasn’t my own. Sometimes, I put too much value in what others think which often leads to my own downfall—because what other people think (even what I think at times) doesn’t matter. 

What matters above all else is what God thinks. And he loves us all the same, unconditionally.

There’s a popular saying, “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.” Isn’t that the truth? Thankfully for the 75 men he saved that day on Hacksaw Ridge, Desmond Doss did stand up for what he believed. 

Imagine how scary it must have been to take on the U.S. Army in court based on your convictions alone? Doss found his courage in the Lord. He stood up for what he believed in and won the right to live it out on the battlefield, where he risked his life to save both American and Japanese soldiers. I like to think of it this way: Desmond’s faith drove him to fight for the soldiers that he saved before he even knew that he was fighting for them.

I have to believe that once they knew WHO Doss got his strength and courage from, he not only saved 75 lives but also saved 75 souls by leading them to Jesus.

Proverbs 29:25 GNT 
It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.

If Desmond had run from his convictions and obeyed his commanding officer, he would have been forced to pick up a rifle and deny his true purpose—to honor God through helping and serving others. What he said in court was so moving:

“With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don’t seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together.” 

I believe all Christians are called to do the same—selflessly share God’s love with others without any expectation of it being returned to us. 

Matthew 25:40
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

Unfortunately, in this day and age, we’re often guilty of caring more about what others think, even if we don’t want to admit it. I know I do. 

Instead, we should put our trust in what God says is right and live by his truths and purpose for our lives. It’s not always easy, but doing so will give us the rich and satisfying life Jesus promised (John 10:10). 

Questions:

Have you ever had to fight for what you believe is right? Did you stand your ground or run from conflict? What is a conviction that you are willing to go to the ends of the earth to uphold?

Next Steps:

Carve out some quiet time and listen for God’s purpose for you. Pray that God would help you stand firm in your convictions like Desmond Doss did. 

Invite friends and family to join you next weekend for the third installment of At The Movies.

Text Fiction to 419-419-0707, and join us for a flash fiction story that parallels the theme from this week’s movie.

Prayer:

Father, show me how to have the courage to stand up for what is right and to be unconcerned by what others think of me. Who you say I am is what matters most, and I know that you say I am loved, worthy, and strong. When I listen to others, I fail. When I listen to you, I know it's right because you have not and will not fail me. Thank you for your confidence in me when mine fades. In Jesus’ name, amen.