Read: I Cor. 4:15-21, 11:1  

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”  II Corinthians 13:5 

The apostle Paul could say, “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1).  Such a command takes a lot of confidence and conviction.  Many people today are not convinced about certain Bible teachings. When those teachings are explained to them, they waver and say, “l do not have convictions about that”, or ,”l am just not convinced.” How do we get convictions that we do not have? 

We get them through a vibrant relationship with God, by Spirit-directed study of His Word, and by following godly examples. If we do not have convictions right away, maybe we could borrow them. Let me explain. 

My father was a carpenter with a fine set of tools. There were five of us boys, and as we grew older, married, and left home, we often needed a good chisel or hand plane. So we would borrow Dad’s. It was so handy to run home and raid his toolbox. Dad got tired of this and kindly asked us to buy our own tools. His toolbox was getting empty. 

We will need more than borrowed convictions to get along in the Christian life, but I hope we get the point. If we do not have convictions, maybe we can start by borrowing them. Do not beg off by saying, “I do not have convictions for that.” Remember what Paul wrote: “Follow me as I follow Christ.” You can be sure these “borrowed tools” will be sharp and adequate. 

After you have lived awhile with borrowed convictions, you will find out that you really need them for yourself. Then you can purchase them and make them your own. There are many good Christians around who will be glad to assist you. 

~James Baer