What brings about change in your life? Conviction or consequences? Here’s what I mean: do you endeavor to grow to be more like Christ because you love Him and are grieved by your sin (conviction), or because bad things have happened or will happen if you get caught sinning (consequences).

This came to mind as I read this short sentence in Psalm 78:34:

“When he killed them, they sought him.”

This isn’t genuine conviction: this is change that occurs when God uses consequences to get our attention. Sometimes that’s necessary, but it isn’t sufficient for lasting change. (If you’re not convinced about that, read the remainder of Psalm 78!)

Genuine conviction, on the other hand, comes from knowing who God is, what He is like, and what we are like, and what He has called us to. He is the creator of the world (Genesis 1-2), the infinite, wise, sovereign God (Isaiah 40), who is holy (Isaiah 6, Hab. 1:13). We are sinners (Romans 1-3) who deserve judgment (Romans 6:23), but have received grace and mercy (Ephesians 1-3) and are called to be holy, as God is holy.

When we really get this, we’ll understand it means to change from conviction rather than consequence. Then we’ll understand Romans 2:4:

“…God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance…”

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