Test Yourselves

The Front Page 23.6; June 2016

 

 The Bible says that all of us who profess to be Christians need to “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2 Cor. 13:5). We do need to be truthful and honest as we consider our relationships with God. Is my relationship with God all that it ought to be? Am I satisfied with something less? Am I faithful in light of what the Scriptures say faithfulness is -  or do I rationalize my lack of faithfulness in my walk with God? Am I growing in my faith? Instead of trying to make the Bible fit our lives, we need to make our lives fit with what the Bible teaches. 

There is no real, eternal profit in justifying myself by lifting a verse out of its context, twisting a verse here and ignoring a verse there. The Lord warns us of the dangers of “going beyond what has been written” (1 Cor. 4:6). We are told not to alter that gospel which we have already been given (Gal. 1:6-9). We are reminded that if we are not content to abide in the doctrine of Christ, then we separate ourselves from God and His Son (2 John 9). 

So we do need to take a look at ourselves, and often, for good, honest self evaluation. We need to examine our goals and perspectives, always committed to Jesus as our Lord. Look into the perfect law of liberty - and abide by it - and be blessed in what you do (James 1:22-25).