Self-Examination is One Strategy to Keep on the Right Path

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
                             2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV)
 



Hi Friends,
 
     How are you today?  Last week, I wrote about reading the Bible and the importance of the God’s Word.  And, how did I show the importance of God’s Word?  I used God’s own words through St. Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV), which says, “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Today, I would like to delve deeper into one of the purposes of the Bible.
 
     God, through St. Paul, tells us to “examine yourselves.”  How are we to examine ourselves?  We can take a moment to think about what we do, what we think, and what we feel, and we can measure them against the words in the Holy Bible.  The Bible is a guide for us to follow to live correctly in God’s sight, so that we can spend eternal life with Him.  We also have Jesus as an example and the Holy Spirit within us to help us reflect on whether what we are doing is right or wrong.
 
     So, if we have an opinion that differs from someone else, how do we know what is true and right?  We look to see what the Bible says, pray about it, and look at how Jesus lived.  It is good to examine ourselves and make sure we are on the right path. God’s Word is available for our instruction and for us to “prove” that what is right or wrong.  It is our compass.  It shows us how to live correctly in God’s eyes.
 
     I think most of us probably try to avoid the “big things” like, the commandment saying we should not kill.  We might think, “Did I kill anyone today?  Nope, so I am good.”  Yet, it is often the “little things” that lead to us spiraling down into darkness away from God without us even knowing what happens.  It might be a bad thought, a “little fib”, or maybe a word said in anger, that if left unchecked, can lead to us being far, far from God.  We don’t notice it, because it is only tiny little steps away from God.  Like in our thinking above, “I didn’t kill anyone today, so I must be good, right?”  Well, even these “little things” are sin that bring us farther and farther from God.  Our “little” actions, words, and feelings need to be in check every moment of every day as well.
 
     Yes, yes, I know that this may seem a little extreme and that our society doesn’t necessarily agree with this statement as a whole.  So, what should we do?  Like the verse says, “Examine yourselves.”  Check to see what God’s Word says, reflect upon Jesus’ example for us, and ask the Holy Spirit.  The Bible doesn’t say, check to make sure you didn’t do any “big things” that are wrong.  All sin, big or small, brings us farther from God.  Not sure if you believe what I say.  That is okay.  What should you do?  Read the Bible, reflect upon Jesus’ example, and pray for guidance.  I don’t mind.  I don’t want you to take my word for it.  I want you to read the Bible, reflect upon Jesus’ example, and pray for guidance.
 
     Why do we want to examine ourselves?  We want to examine ourselves so that we don’t fall far from God.  We want to stay on the right track that leads to everlasting life with God.  We want to have God’s Holy Spirit within us.  If we examine ourselves often, even if we stray, we can seek forgiveness and get back on the right path, before we go so far away from God that it is very hard to turn back to Him.
 
Heavenly Father,
     Thank you for providing your Word to guide us and show us the right way to go.  Help us to heed your word and to examine ourselves often to make sure we are on the right path.  Help us to know that we need to see if we measure up in the “little things” as well as the “big things”, because all sin whether big or small lead us farther from you.  I ask you this through your Son, Jesus.  Amen.
 
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Reflective Questions for 2 Corinthians 13:5
*What does 2 Corinthians 13:5 mean to me?
*Do I consult God or read the Bible when I am not sure what is right and
 wrong?
*Do I examine my actions, thoughts, and feelings against what the Bible
 says to see how I measure up?  If so, why and how often?  If not, why not?
*Do I feel I should be concerned about “little” sins?
*What does the Bible say about the “little” sins?

Now, friends, I would like to hear your thoughts.
Leave me a comment.  Also, if you like this post, feel free to share it or even sign up to hear from me in your inbox.

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