Proverbs 20:30: A Punch to the Gut

"Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts." Proverbs 20:30

Have you ever gotten one of those metaphorical punches to the gut? Perhaps it was a pastor in one of his sermons saying something that really hit you. Or perhaps it was a friend of mentor who exposed for you a sin in your life you weren't aware of. How did you deal with that? Did you take it well, or did you react in hostility? From our proverb today, we find that those punches to the gut are often exactly what we need to grow in Christ.

But what am I refering to when I speak of a "punch to the gut"? From the scripture above, I believe we can define these spiritual "punches" refering to both conviction and affliction. Firstly, we speak of conviction. Simply defined, conviction is the act of the Holy Spirit showing us the sin in our lives. This may come through the medium of reading God's word, having someone else point out sins in our lives, or many other means.* However, we must distinguish conviction from condemnation. Conviction is a wonderful and glorious thing by which we can see our sins, turn from them, and become more like Christ. Conviction says, "Here is where you are falling short of Christ's commands; you should turn from these things by the Holy Spirit's power so that you can become more Christ-like." However, condemnation is a bad and awful thing that leads people to hell. Condemnaton says, "Here is where you are falling short of Christ's commands, and because of this, you are not worthy of entering God's kingdom." The Bible tells us that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). However, there is still conviction, but praise the Lord. How else will we be ever become more like Christ aside from being convicted of our own sin?

Secondly, when I speaks of getting a "punch to the gut," I speak of affliction. Simply defined, affliction speaks of any trial in our lives, big or small, that causes us to either turn to God or turn to ourselves. Although we often speak of "afflictions" as only being big scenarios (the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, etc.), I believe that we ought to even consider the smallest of trials in this life afflictions. If we do not do so, we will disregard them, and not cast them upon the Lord, and thus be tempted to bear with them in our own strength. These afflictions and trials test our heart to see whether we will turn outwardly to God or inwardly to ourselves. Thus, we must speak of any trial in life as being sanctifying (being made more like Christ) if we deal with it by turning outwardly, for by their harshness and difficulty we learn to rely on Christ more.

So, perhaps you are bearing great affliction or conviction today. Rather than disregarding it and thus forsaking a great means of spiritual growth, I encourage you to take advantage of it that you might grow! Is this not what the proverb tells us will happen under these afflictions? Read it again: "Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts." By afflictions and convictions, we are cleansed from our sin. Thus, go out and endure these things, that you might become more like Christ! Amen.

In response to today's devotional, I encourage you to pray the following prayer;

Affliction and conviction,

By each I am made clean.

Let me ne’er forsake them,

That from this world I might be weaned.

*Often we think that conviction only comes from reading God's Word, but I don't believe this is true. Although we ought to guide all of our convictions by the Word of God, I believe we ought to seek to be convicted by many other things, such as listening to our pastor's sermons, looking at how other Christian's live, and even observing the hurt in this world that leads us to action. Perhaps many other examples could be given as well. Although it is ultimately the Holy Spirit alone that convicts us, I believe that we ought to open our eyes to be convicted by others as well as God's Word. Also, if you really want to be convicted, try reading a biography of a missionary who gave their life to serve for Christ. I recently read Adoniram Judson's, and I highly recommend it. A short 64-page version can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Adoniram-Judson-missionary-Erroll-Hulse/dp/B0006R0SV8 It's one dollar on kindle (or $8 in book form, including shipping) and it took me an hour and a half to read (and I'm an extremely slow reader). I guarantee you it's worth your time.