Conviction is not condemnation ~ Mike MacIntosh

So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. In the evening He came with the twelve. Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said,

"Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me
will betray Me."

And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?"

Mark 14:16-19

Conviction is not condemnation.

The Holy Spirit works in a believer's life to convict of sin. And while this may be painful at times, it is such an amazing thing to experience.

It is God's way of showing you how incredible He is and that you need to fully rely on Him for everything in your life. Holding on to sins is a sure-fire way to live a miserable life, and He doesn't want that for you.

When Jesus said that one of the disciples would betray Him, their response was one of sorrow and introspection. While we know that Judas was the one that Jesus was specifically talking about, we also know that Peter denied Jesus before the rooster crowed three times.

You see, when the Holy Spirit reveals things to us,
when we read the Bible, or when we hear
a message from a Bible teacher or pastor,
it brings about conviction in our life.

The disciples' reaction of "Was it I?" was pure and natural for a believer; they didn't want to betray Jesus.

This is why communion is such a vital component to the body of Christ. That is a time when we specifically remember what Jesus Christ did on the cross.

It's a time of introspection to examine what it is that our Lord would have us be and do. While we ponder and reflect what Christ did over 2,000 years ago, it's also a time for us to ask,

"Lord, what area of my life do I need to
more fully surrender to You?"

So allow the Holy Spirit to convict you-He's not condemning you!

Let Him open your heart, shine the light of truth, and remove things from your heart that need adjusting.

He is so quick to respond and set you free.