November 17, 2004 Wednesday
Comfort or Conviction?

"They were pricked in their heart, and said...what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)
"They were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them." (Acts 5:33)

As a sewer weaves his needle and thread to produce his work, so too is the Spirit of God weaving a sharp, fine needle of conviction through each of our lives, in order to produce His priceless and eternal work. "Pricked" means pierced, and when the lost heard the Gospel in Acts 2 a needle burst straight into the hearts of thousands as they finally understood that they were guilty, just as we are, of piercing the sinless Savior; and it wasn't comfortable. Conviction is never comfortable, but Jesus has promised true comfort to yielding hearts. "The Comforter...when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7,8). The Spirit is our Comforter not because He avoids our sin, but because He is bold to confront it all. And the piercing pain of His conviction is much like the piercing pain of crucifixion that Jesus felt when His hands, feet, and side were pierced at the cross of Calvary...and oh how we need them both! The piercing of the hearts in Acts 2 wasn't the notable thing, but rather the repentant hearts. Hearts hardened to Christ abound, and such cannot be pierced, but must be cut. The greater portion of the multitude in Acts 2 did not respond to the message preached and many were later "cut to the heart". While a needle is used for piercing, a saw is used for cutting; and His word His sharp enough for both tasks. However, as painful as the piercing of the heart is, much more so is the cutting! When we yield to the immediate piercing of the Spirit there's a small hole left behind, but it's quickly healed through our obedience to Him. But when we refuse and resist He begins cutting, and the splits and gashes of our disobedience become increasingly difficult to mend. And, after time, the blade of His conviction will only become dull to our hearts until we can no longer even distinguish it. "The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." (John 16:2) Because of their continual refusal, those "cut to the heart" in Acts 5:33 became a fulfillment of this dark prophesy. God wants us to become like a needle and saw in His hand, sharp and effective for His Honor and Glory, but don't allow yourself to become dull to Him. Allow the discomfort of His conviction to sharpen and shape you; and, afterwards, you will see God fabricating His incorruptible work in you every day!