Self-check
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 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. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
There is so much to discuss in this chapter of this epistle. Paul is addressing them again, and being pretty stern about it. He has called out there sins, and in the closing of this second epistle he is really saying, “You don’t want me to come down there in person.” In chapter 13 he is telling them to examine themselves; ask themselves the same questions that are directing at Paul. My favorite Bible commentary says Paul wanted them to live by the same standards they asked of him; where they living out the faith they proclaimed? That is a question we must continue to ask of ourselves today, honestly one that is needed daily, and even down deeper than that. This world tugs at our every fiber wanting us to live in the flesh, and not in the spirit. I am guilty just as you, every day I fail, every day is an opportunity for repentance in the flesh coming out of me in more than one circumstance each day.
How do we self-evaluate? All sorts of self-help books are out there with countless guidelines to give you twelve-step programs to evaluate and improve your image and self-worth. All the products of mankind to fix what only the Bible can. Only the Bible is called the Living Word, because only the Bible has the power of God through his Holy Spirit answering those questions that you ask. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. So many times we put down the Bible because we don’t like the way it makes us feel. The Holy Spirit is poking on the sin you don’t want to let go, maybe denied sin, maybe hidden sin, maybe sin you felt justified in. How will you ever get close to God holding whatever sin the Spirit shows you above your relationship with Him? How will you kneel before Him on Judgement Day and give an excuse of what he is going to tell you he clearly told you in his Word? Romans 14:11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
Living a good life, going to church, doing good deeds, and any list of self-accomplishments will never do the work in your life with eternal meaning that will substitute time spent in the Bible. There is nothing next to Salvation more eternally important that spending daily time in the Bible. All of your life flows and is reflected from your time spent there. Paul’s self-reflection is a working part of God’s sanctification through you in it. Pray, open it, and meditate on it daily.
Lighter Note: I couldn’t help but laugh as I thought of the old Stuart Smalley clip from SNL. It truly sums up the corniness of all self-help media.
SNL Link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIETlxquzY
oneminuteministry 
Self-check
Self-check
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 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. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
There is so much to discuss in this chapter of this epistle. Paul is addressing them again, and being pretty stern about it. He has called out there sins, and in the closing of this second epistle he is really saying, “You don’t want me to come down there in person.” In chapter 13 he is telling them to examine themselves; ask themselves the same questions that are directing at Paul. My favorite Bible commentary says Paul wanted them to live by the same standards they asked of him; where they living out the faith they proclaimed? That is a question we must continue to ask of ourselves today, honestly one that is needed daily, and even down deeper than that. This world tugs at our every fiber wanting us to live in the flesh, and not in the spirit. I am guilty just as you, every day I fail, every day is an opportunity for repentance in the flesh coming out of me in more than one circumstance each day.
How do we self-evaluate? All sorts of self-help books are out there with countless guidelines to give you twelve-step programs to evaluate and improve your image and self-worth. All the products of mankind to fix what only the Bible can. Only the Bible is called the Living Word, because only the Bible has the power of God through his Holy Spirit answering those questions that you ask. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. So many times we put down the Bible because we don’t like the way it makes us feel. The Holy Spirit is poking on the sin you don’t want to let go, maybe denied sin, maybe hidden sin, maybe sin you felt justified in. How will you ever get close to God holding whatever sin the Spirit shows you above your relationship with Him? How will you kneel before Him on Judgement Day and give an excuse of what he is going to tell you he clearly told you in his Word? Romans 14:11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
Living a good life, going to church, doing good deeds, and any list of self-accomplishments will never do the work in your life with eternal meaning that will substitute time spent in the Bible. There is nothing next to Salvation more eternally important that spending daily time in the Bible. All of your life flows and is reflected from your time spent there. Paul’s self-reflection is a working part of God’s sanctification through you in it. Pray, open it, and meditate on it daily.
Lighter Note: I couldn’t help but laugh as I thought of the old Stuart Smalley clip from SNL. It truly sums up the corniness of all self-help media.
SNL Link>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIETlxquzY
Posted by oneminuteministry on December 12, 2014 in Daily Devotions
Tags: Bible commentary