Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: 2 Corinthians 13:1-10
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?"
As a someone with a call to the pastoral ministry, I have learned a lot from older pastors. For instance, I have been told that when someone brings forth a message about examining our walk with God it evokes a lot of different feelings. Some are excited because it reassures them of their faith. Others get angry because someone has had the audacity to question their salvation. Whatever emotion it may swell within in a listener during a sermon, there are sure to be some upset people.
In Second Corinthians 13:5, we have a similar exhortation from Paul: Christians, examine your walk with God. Like pastors and other Bible teachers today, the purpose behind Paul's call to self-examination is to bring us back to God and His Word. These messages aren't to be applied to someone else. The text doesnt say examine others to see if they are in the faith; it says to examine yourselves. It is one that I need to apply to myself, and one that you need to apply to yourself.
But how do we do a spiritual self-examination? The only way is to check our actions and make sure they are lining up with how the Bible says that we should be living. There are a number of scriptures that give us direction in this area. Here a couple key ones:
Ephesians 1:4 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
1 John 2:3-4 "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
Are you living according to God's Word? Were you tempted to close this devotion and go on to other things? If so, then you are probably due for a self-check (and I am as well!). Dont put off your relationship with Jesus another day. Make it your number priority in life. Faith Lesson: 2 Corinthians 13:7: "Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed."
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: 2 Corinthians 13:1-10
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?"
As a someone with a call to the pastoral ministry, I have learned a lot from older pastors. For instance, I have been told that when someone brings forth a message about examining our walk with God it evokes a lot of different feelings. Some are excited because it reassures them of their faith. Others get angry because someone has had the audacity to question their salvation. Whatever emotion it may swell within in a listener during a sermon, there are sure to be some upset people.
In Second Corinthians 13:5, we have a similar exhortation from Paul: Christians, examine your walk with God. Like pastors and other Bible teachers today, the purpose behind Paul's call to self-examination is to bring us back to God and His Word. These messages aren't to be applied to someone else. The text doesnt say examine others to see if they are in the faith; it says to examine yourselves. It is one that I need to apply to myself, and one that you need to apply to yourself.
But how do we do a spiritual self-examination? The only way is to check our actions and make sure they are lining up with how the Bible says that we should be living. There are a number of scriptures that give us direction in this area. Here a couple key ones:
Ephesians 1:4 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
1 John 2:3-4 "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
Are you living according to God's Word? Were you tempted to close this devotion and go on to other things? If so, then you are probably due for a self-check (and I am as well!). Dont put off your relationship with Jesus another day. Make it your number priority in life. Faith Lesson: 2 Corinthians 13:7: "Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed."
In Christ,
Darin Smith
