Test Yourself

Your body needs regular check ups. It's important to visit your doctor and your dentist regularly to keep your body healthy. Your soul needs regular check ups, too. Last time we looked at the need to regularly examine yourself. "How do we do that? Scripture." I think we can be a bit more specific than that.

A good place to start is the Sermon on the Mount. Some claim this passage only applied to 1st century Jews or will only apply in the Messianic Kingdom. No, Jesus seems to think it applies to us right now. So go through it slowly and ask yourself hard questions. For example ...

"Blessed are those who mourn" (Matt 5:4). Mourn over what? Most commentators say "sin". You don't like sin, but are you honestly grieved by it? Do you mourn the sin in your nation and in your life? If not, why not? Maybe we should spend more time meditating on how sin grieves God and less time arguing about politics.

"Blessed are the merciful" (Matt 5:7), and "forgive us our debts  as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt 6:12). Are you holding a grudge against someone? "If you ... remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ... go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift" (Matt 5:23-24). Does anyone have a grudge against you? Did you offend them? Maybe not, maybe they're being unreasonable — can you still make peace with that person?

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt 5:44). Do you? What does that even look like?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1Cor 13: 4-7)

Do you do that to your enemies? Do you do that to your family? Are you patient? Do you envy? Boast? Are you easily angered?

Yes, the epistles have a lot of commands we're not doing, too. Consider Philippians.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phil 2:1-4).

Unity and harmony in the church are important, so we should "do everything without grumbling or arguing" (Phil 2:14) and avoid gossip and slander (eg, 2Cor 12:20). Do you?

Don't forget James. Do you show favoritism (2:1)? "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food"; do you help them or wish them to "keep warm and well fed" (2:15-16)?

Be honest with yourself: Do you love the world (1John 2:15)? It was toxic to Demas (2Tim 4:10) and will ruin us, too. In fact, 1John is full of tests we need to subject ourselves to.

Test yourself before God tests you. Ask yourself the questions you don't want to ask. Then take it to Jesus. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).

God's standards are high, but he's also a realist:

As a father has compassion on his children,
  so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
  he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:13-14)

So don't despair. But do deal with what you find.


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