Psalm 127

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:1-5 NKJV)

Courage. Not the kind of courage that is portrayed in Hollywood movies, but real courage. The kind of courage that God honors and rewards. Many think of courage as the absence of fear. The courage that pleases God is the action of doing the right thing regardless of our fears. It is doing the right thing regardless of financial or societal costs. Courage is fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities to our families.

To be courageous we must stand on our convictions. To have God-pleasing courage we must have Godly convictions.

A Godly conviction is a basic Scriptural principle that we purpose to follow, whatever the cost.

What follows are ten scriptural convictions of a righteous man.

1. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority for my life.

“Saying this means nothing if I do not cherish the Word of God. It is foolish to cherish a book. —- but this is not just a book. The Author of this Book is the Author and Authority of all of life. When I read this book I feel the breath that breathed these Words breathing on me.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16)

One of the best gifts you can give your children and grandchildren is to teach them to cherish God’s Word.

2. My purpose in life is to seek God with my whole heart and to build my goals around His priorities.

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8)

Think of quality. Life must be lived. Things must be built. Living in the world means, living in the world, working, loving, playing, and living. If we do all these things for the Glory of God and the sake of His Kingdom. How great would be the Quality of the things we do?

3. My body is the living temple of God and must not be defiled by the lust of the world.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Think of health.

4. My church must teach the foundational truths of the Bible and reinforce my basic convictions.

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

Any Church that does not hold to the Truth of God’s Word is not worthy of your presence.

5. My children and grandchildren belong to God, and it is my responsibility to teach them Scriptural principles, Godly character, and basic convictions.

“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”” (Matthew 19:14)

6. My activities must never weaken the Scriptural convictions of another Christian.

“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” (Romans 14:13)

7. My marriage is a life-long commitment to God and my wife.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

8. My money is a trust from God and must be earned and managed according to Scriptural principles.

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11)

9. My words must be in harmony with God’s Word, especially when reproving and restoring a Christian brother.

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:37)

10. My affections must be set on things above, not on things on the earth.

” “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21,)