Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)
Our spiritual life is a fourfold life. 1) I listen to God speak. 2) I tell God about my life and ask Him for ‘stuff’. 3) I look at my life and, with the Holy Spirit’s help, turn from sin and keep to God’s plan and path. 4) Praise and thanksgiving every day for all things.
Too often I would prefer to ‘forget’ that #3 point. Even when point #3 shows itself in point #1 and #2, I want to ignore God’s leading.
How many times have I listened to strong, toe-stepping sermon and knew it was meant for someone else?! Or if I felt a bit of pain in my toes, I pulled my feet back and did not look at the truth too closely! Do I sit quietly and listen to what God has to say? Do I allow Him to bring His principles, laws, precepts, commands, statutes, and ordinances to my mind? And then do I meditate on them or do I quickly dismiss them as old and not part of the grace theology that I prefer to meditate?
How much of my prayer life is about my wants and needs? Have I reduced God to a vending machine or spiritual Sugar Daddy? While God is my Father and wants me to come to Him for everything, He wants to have a relationship first and that is about conversation which means there is talking and listening! My prayers would go so much better if I remembered that I have two ears and one mouth!
I have shared here that every night I go to the Lord to review the day. That is when I get quiet and allow God to shine His light on the day and allow His Spirit to convict (not condemn) me. It is the time each day to repent; to ask forgiveness; and turn to God in all things. It is time for reconciliation. I do not want to fail the test! Jesus is about second chances and I do not want to miss that or refuse the opportunity. Praise and thanksgiving flows freely when it does not have to go around obstacles or becomes a trickle because of the wall of sin that I have built.
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)
Jesus lives in me. Am I offering Him a clean house in which to dwell? Do I daily have the Holy Spirit sweep out everything that is not pleasing to Him? Look at the list that Paul gives:
Be joyful. Do not let life’s circumstances dictate how I live. The joy comes from knowing my Hope.
Grow up! I am a disciple in the Army of God. I have passed boot camp – on to Servant School!
Encourage others. Live in harmony and peace. Jesus was a servant of all. He washed Peter’s feet and Judas’. He stood before Pilate and said nothing. He is my example.
And the promise: God will be with me with His love and His peace. All that I need.
