Self-Examination
1 Corinthians 11:28
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Doctors recommend that we have a physical examination on a regular basis. The purpose of having a physical examination performed is to find any physical problems that may be happening in our body. Doctors know that it is much easier to treat a disease or sickness in the early stages than it is in a progressive stage.
In the verse above God commands us to examine ourselves. The word “examine” means, “to inspect carefully with a view to discover the truth.” God wants every Christian to regularly perform a self-examination on their spiritual health to determine if they are spiritually sick. When we go into this self-examination, we need to perform it with the desire to truthfully know our condition. One problem I find with most Christians is that they really don't want to know the truth. Most Christians simply want to believe that they are doing fine, but this will only hurt us if we are doing something that we should not do.
In the Scriptures there are four areas in which we are commanded to examine ourselves. First, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, we are commanded to examine our doctrine to determine whether we are still doctrinally in the faith. God wants us to regularly examine our stance on doctrine to be sure that we are standing where we are supposed to stand. How important this is in our present day. God knows that we are prone to change our stance on doctrine because of the pressures or religion and friends. You need to examine yourself and make sure your doctrine lines up with Scripture.
Secondly, in Psalm 26:2, we are commanded to examine the condition of our heart. Yes, we need to make sure our heart is still involved in serving God. God wants us to make sure our passion for serving Him has not changed. There are many people who once had a fiery passion in their service to God who now only go through the motions in their service to Him. Examine your passions and make sure they have not changed.
Thirdly, in Lamentations 3:40, we are commanded to examine our direction. The direction you are headed in life is a very important thing to examine. Though you may not be in a wrong place right now, the direction you are headed will take you to a wrong place. Examine your direction morally, spiritually and doctrinally and make sure you are not headed down the wrong path.
Last of all, in Galatians 6:4 we are commanded to examine our works to be sure they are producing the right results. God wants His children to have works that produce. I fear many times we think we are spiritually doing fine when our works haven't produced anything in a long while.
Sometime today you need to get alone and perform a self-examination to make sure you are not spiritually sick in one of these areas. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you perform this self-examination and point out any area that you need to treat immediately. A regular spiritual self-examination with the purpose of finding out the truth will help us to stay spiritually healthy.
1 Corinthians 11:28
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Doctors recommend that we have a physical examination on a regular basis. The purpose of having a physical examination performed is to find any physical problems that may be happening in our body. Doctors know that it is much easier to treat a disease or sickness in the early stages than it is in a progressive stage.
In the verse above God commands us to examine ourselves. The word “examine” means, “to inspect carefully with a view to discover the truth.” God wants every Christian to regularly perform a self-examination on their spiritual health to determine if they are spiritually sick. When we go into this self-examination, we need to perform it with the desire to truthfully know our condition. One problem I find with most Christians is that they really don't want to know the truth. Most Christians simply want to believe that they are doing fine, but this will only hurt us if we are doing something that we should not do.
In the Scriptures there are four areas in which we are commanded to examine ourselves. First, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, we are commanded to examine our doctrine to determine whether we are still doctrinally in the faith. God wants us to regularly examine our stance on doctrine to be sure that we are standing where we are supposed to stand. How important this is in our present day. God knows that we are prone to change our stance on doctrine because of the pressures or religion and friends. You need to examine yourself and make sure your doctrine lines up with Scripture.
Secondly, in Psalm 26:2, we are commanded to examine the condition of our heart. Yes, we need to make sure our heart is still involved in serving God. God wants us to make sure our passion for serving Him has not changed. There are many people who once had a fiery passion in their service to God who now only go through the motions in their service to Him. Examine your passions and make sure they have not changed.
Thirdly, in Lamentations 3:40, we are commanded to examine our direction. The direction you are headed in life is a very important thing to examine. Though you may not be in a wrong place right now, the direction you are headed will take you to a wrong place. Examine your direction morally, spiritually and doctrinally and make sure you are not headed down the wrong path.
Last of all, in Galatians 6:4 we are commanded to examine our works to be sure they are producing the right results. God wants His children to have works that produce. I fear many times we think we are spiritually doing fine when our works haven't produced anything in a long while.
Sometime today you need to get alone and perform a self-examination to make sure you are not spiritually sick in one of these areas. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you perform this self-examination and point out any area that you need to treat immediately. A regular spiritual self-examination with the purpose of finding out the truth will help us to stay spiritually healthy.
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