From: David Kabanje
Date: December 5, 2022
Subject: GMU: The Gift of Conviction


Beautiful People, 

An exposition on the Prodigal Son is good for the soul. The Prodigal Son illustrates the harmful extent that our desires can take us. Like most of us, the Prodigal believed he knew better than his father. His way was the right way, the best way. "The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9, NLT). Selfish desires, worldly pleasures, and a subconscious wickedness corrupt man's mind. Sorry Disney, but to trust my heart would spell my doom. Our world is quick to paint us, and subsequently our choices, in a positive light. Scripture does not take this perspective. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV)? I praise God that He knows my heart and does not run away from its horror. God transforms it to be a beautiful palace fit for a King. God's love is astonishing. His love for my prodigal heart humbles me because it brings a special gift—the gift of conviction.

As the Prodigal was eating out of the pig pods, the Bible says, "he came to himself." Other translations say, "when he came to his senses." Beautiful People, our human nature causes us to turn within ourselves. Self-centeredness is the natural disposition of the heart, so how can we come to our senses? What sense is this? Is it a self-realization of our circumstances? The self-realization of our depravity? Or is it a self-realization of God's character and love toward us? Friends, the gift of conviction to the disposition of our souls and the cure to our self-centeredness is a gift from the Holy Spirit. While we wallow in the pig pens of life, the Holy Spirit provides the gift of conviction—conviction to our sins, yes, and conviction to God's redemptive and welcoming love. So, for all the prodigals reading this message, come home. Accept the gift of conviction, come to your senses, and come home to Jesus. For those already in Christ, be the good older brother and welcome your prodigal brother or sister back with love and cheer because what was lost is now found.