March 29 A Hard and True Look at Yourself 2 Corinthians 13:5
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina…“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)
We are instructed to “examine ourselves!” We need to constantly be aware of our human frailties and shortcomings and recognize our dependence on God’s amazing Grace for our lives. Keep in mind, there is a huge difference in “Examination” and “Condemnation!” “Examination” helps us stay centered and focused on the Saving Power and the Sustaining Grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ! He told us, in John 3:17 that, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Folks, if He does not condemn us, what should we condemn ourselves? Now, “Condemnation” is a different thing. “Condemnation” keeps our minds fixed on the ugliness of our sins and traps us in the Satan inspired feelings of condemnation and weakness! Satan is excited when we condemn ourselves! Satan is edified when we surrender our energies to him and he can drain our spiritual energy. Folks, we are to examine ourselves, not condemn ourselves. As we move into “Holy Week,” let us be mindful of the unmerited favor and love of God towards sinful humanity and recognize that He does not condemn us, so we ought not to condemn ourselves or others!! Listen, we are to examine, but, we are not to condemn! Our God, in His love for Humanity, sent His only Son to die for our sins and when we recognize o9ur sinfulness and when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins and, as believers, are covered by that Shed Blood, then we are to examine our lives to keep ourselves in His Will and to Walk in Obedience to Him. God has forgiven our sins, those sins that we have confessed to Him, and He has ordained that we should move forward, not backwards!! Remember, there is a huge difference in “Examination” and “Condemnation!” Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!