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Conviction without change is wasted emotion

One of my good friends and mentors used to say that "conviction without change is wasted emotion."

Read that again.

Read it once more. Slowly.

As I was studying for this Sundays sermon out of Acts 17 and Paul's witness in Athens, I was particularly struck by these words:

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. Acts 17:16 (ESV)

I'll be talking in my sermon on Sunday about these words in their context and what Paul did about this wave of emotion in light of the context. But for a moment let me make this point: Paul's spirit was provoked. There was a conviction down to the core of his being. And he responded. He made a change.

When you are convicted about something, how do you respond? Do you make a change fuled by grace and the Holy Spirit? Or do you ignore it, possibly quenching the Spirit?

  • Have you been convicted to reach out to someone who needs encouragement?
  • Have you been convicted to call someone?
  • Have you been convicted to write a note to someone?
  • Have you been convicted to send a text message to someone?
  • Have you been convicted to confront someone in love?
  • Have you been convicted to forgive someone?
  • Have you been convicted to start __________ ?
  • Have you been convicted to stop __________ ?
  • Have you been convicted ________________ ?

When our spirit is provoked, let's respond. Let's obey. Let's pray and listen and respond.

Conviction without change is wasted emotion.