Examine Yourself

Daily Devotional – Thursday, April 6, 2023
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

For many people, an examination is a timed academic exercise to test knowledge and understanding at the end of a course of study. Ideally, the period before the test is reserved for intense revision. This exercise is a form self-examination before being scrutinized by another entity.

Need for Self-Assessment

Another form of examination is medical in nature. This happens especially when one has experienced bodily discomfort. A medical practitioner will prescribe a series of tests to establish the real cause of the symptoms. Just as with academic tests, one must have done some form of self-examination before deciding to visit a medical facility.

Similarly, when people tell say you are well-groomed or smart, there are evaluating you. The same is true when they express their reservations with your dressing. To lessen undue criticism, evaluate yourself before you step out. A mirror will assist greatly in this regard.

Test Yourself

In the spiritual realm, self-examination is critical, too. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Apostle Paul concluded by warning the believers that the next time he visited the church, he would not spare those who were persisting in sin. There was only one way to avoid this outcome and the possibility of eternal damnation.

Paul admonished, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” (2 Corinthians 13:5). In other words, before others criticize or commend you, be your own judge.

Judge Yourself

In the first epistle to the same church, Paul had stated, “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:31). Although Paul was addressing the issue of believers’ conduct before participating in the Holy Communion, he shed more light on the issue of self-assessment.

You can lie to others but not to yourself. No human being can tell you the truth about your faith and fidelity to God better than yourself. You know your weaknesses and the transformation required to align yourself with heaven. Self-reflection is self-therapy. It helps you heal even as you mature in faith.

Examine Yourself
Take time to examine yourself every day. Every time you veer off the path of righteousness, retrace your steps, and ask God for forgiveness and the strength to overcome your weaknesses. Do not sleep before you have assessed your day on both temporal and spiritual fronts. In the words of Socrates, “A life that is unexamined is not worth living.”

Prayer
Lord Jesus I commit to examine myself every day. I submit my weaknesses to You. Give me power to overcome.