Today’s Bible Verse
“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? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.”
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NIV)
Examine Yourself
Taking a test for an important class in school or a medical test for our health can be an uncomfortable experience. I donʻt like going through medical tests or examinations because I don’t want to hear potentially negative results. However, we all know these tests are important for the awareness of our body’s needs and to maintain good health.
Self-examination can be even more unnerving. The Bible says to “…examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” We often don’t want to take this test because we may find out negative results, things we donʻt wish to know. Those negative results could be doubts, fear, pride, anxiety, shame, betrayal, loneliness, failure, hopelessness, offense, or unforgiveness.
While self-examination is not easy, it is much needed to recognize and expose any potential areas in our lives that may produce negative results. In John 10, we see that the adversary wants to kill, steal, and destroy. The enemy wants us to live in ignorance and denial of any negative results for the rest of our lives.
When I prayerfully pursued my self-examination, the issue of pride stood out for me. I had the most challenging time walking in humility. Choosing to be humble was difficult because I felt I needed to prove myself. Walking in humility with my wife was hard because I would put up a wall when she tried to communicate with me concerning our finances, marriage, kids, and even ministry.
Pastor Art encouraged me to make a deliberate effort to walk in humility. Without humility, my marriage, family, and ministry would not work. He shared that grace and mercy are upon my life. And because of that, I am empowered to walk in humility.
When you take time to do prayerful self-examination, 2 Corinthians 13 reminds us to take the focus off of ourselves and put it onto the One who does not fail any test. His name is Jesus. He is the One who will help us pass our self-examination victoriously. As we continue to keep this in mind, we can be confident that we will be able and equipped to pass every test that lies ahead. (Pastor Stan Abihai)
Seize the Moment
Take time to get before God in prayer today and allow Him to guide you through examining yourself. What are the results of your examination? Do you recognize any habits, mindsets, or attitudes that need to be exposed so you can dispose of them?
Set Your Life
What changes can you make today to pass your self-examination test successfully?
Today’s Declaration
Lord, I thank You for Your grace and mercy upon my life. I am open to learning about the areas in my life that need examination and development. With this knowledge, I will commit to applying the Word of God, so that I can pass every test in victory!
Today’s Bible Reading
Our Bible Reading Plan gives 25 daily readings per month. There is no scheduled reading for today. You can use this time to catch up on any readings you may have missed, or read through previous passages again.
