March 26, 2025 -- II Corinthians 13:5-6 -- Examines yourselves to see whether are you in the faith
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
II Corinthians 13:5-6 ESV
John Wesley (1703-1791) was a minister, a hymn-writer, and a man with great missionary zeal, who was deeply devoted to Jesus. The list of questions you find below are ones he’d ask himself daily. These are also questions he’d ask his church members. They are penetrating! Certainly they’d fit the command of II Corinthians 13, calling for the believer to examine himself. Scripture itself demands that men and women do not merely intellectually assent to God, but to Him yield head and heart, will and work, yes every area of your life and all your planning. Since it is Jesus Who is our Reconciler and Redeemer, we confess all our wrongdoing to Him so that nothing will hinder our open, ever-growing, relationship with Him. Why confess this to Jesus? He is the way, the truth and life, no one approaches the Father except through Him. Look at the list of questions. As the Spirit shows you what needs to be confessed, go to prayer.
Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
Am I enjoying prayer?
When did I last speak to someone about my faith?
Do I pray about the money I spend?
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Do I disobey God in anything?
Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life?
Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
How do I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?
Do I grumble and complain constantly?
Is Christ real to me?
What temptations were you met with? How were you delivered?
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.
Psalm 139:1-3, 23-24 ESV
https://youtu.be/AgvIssCKkV4?si=dI5DBvavw1PZP7tE Shane & Shane - Psalm 139
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