Examine Ourselves

Dear Brethren,

With Passover quickly approaching, we need to be working on coming into this somber occasion in the proper manner.  A key part of our preparation is to examine ourselves --- our attitudes and actions over the past year.

"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."  (1Corinthians 11:27-28)

What do we look for in examining ourselves?  What questions do we ask ourselves?  In the past, we may have asked ourselves questions like these:

·    Which bad habits have I overcome since last year?
·    Am I more careful about the language I use?
·    Have I been more prompt and courteous than before?
·    Do I take more and better notes during sermons?

These questions in and of themselves are not wrong.  However, this approach may prevent us from focusing on the big picture.  What we need to ask ourselves is, how does God see us?  And what do we need to be doing to grow spiritually?  It is of the utmost importance that our evaluation of ourselves matches God's evaluation of us.  We welcome and desire His involvement in our lives.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. " Psalms (139:23-24)

"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart."  (Psalms 26:2)

"Thou hast examined mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."  (Psalms 17:3)

But how can we see ourselves as God sees us?  How can we know what God is looking for?   God tells us what to desire first.  "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…".  (Matthew 6:33)  That means putting the things of God ahead of our own wants.

God also tells us what kind of attitude He approves of. "… But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word."  (Isaiah 66:2)

Does God see us as humble and respectful of Him, or does He see us as those who war against His peaceful way?  We demonstrate one way or the other, by our Christian conduct or the lack thereof.  We show our humility, or our disrespect for His law in the way we feel about one another.

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!"  (Galatians 5: 14-15)

As we approach Passover, a good yardstick to examine our Christian progress is to measure our disposition toward all other people.   Have we grown in our desire for all men to be able to enjoy the riches of Jesus Christ?  We see this attitude in Paul.  "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."  (Ephesians 3:8)

God is very straightforwardly telling us that, to attain a place in His Kingdom, we must love one another.  1John 3:14 gives us God's standard for attaining salvation.   "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.   He who does not love his brother abides in death."  

So how can we really tell if we truly love the brethren?  We certainly don't want to find out too late!  The Big Exam Scores will be posted at the time of our final judgment.  Passover provides us the opportunity to know ahead of time what the final Test Scores will indicate.  Good News; here's the answer we are looking for, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me... Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."  (Matthew 25:34-40)

Brethren, time is urgently short for us to still be excluding others from God's precious promises.  Are we guilty of being exclusive by loving just the people in our group, or do we love ALL of God's people?

"Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.   And do this [ loving our neighbor ], knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed."   (Romans 13:10-11)

There will be walls that separate brother from brother.  But, let it not be on our part that a wall remains.  Through Jesus it became possible for the entire world to be reconciled to the Father.  We follow His example in keeping every avenue of reconciliation open with our Brethren.

"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."  (2Corinthians 5:19)

As we grow in spiritual maturity we learn to view ourselves more and more as God sees us.   We no longer justify ourselves - but ask to be justified by the blood of Jesus Christ.   We ask ourselves how much we have taken on a resemblance spiritually to Jesus Christ, our older brother -- to how much our thoughts and actions compare to His.  Let's be sure to spend time in prayer and self-examination as Passover approaches

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