Post by George on Nov 3, 2005 16:22:22 GMT -5
Self-Examination
Pro 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
It is widely known and accepted that our heavenly Father is aware of all our goings. God is aware of our deepest thoughts. Everything we do is in the eyes of The Lord. Unfortunately many appear to be satisfied in believing that is all that is necessary in order to gain favor in the eyes of The Lord. The rationale seems to be that since God knows all our being we can blindly stumble along through life doing whatever we care to do knowing that if God allows it, it must be okay since after all, we are Christians.
There remains with us the absolute need for self-examination. We must assess our own ways to determine whether they are in agreement with God’s will for us and if not, what we need to do to restore them to the proper state of conductance of our lives. This necessity is widely spoken of in the Bible.
(Job 13:23) How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
(Psa 4:4) Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
(Psa 77:6) I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
(Psa 119:59) I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
(Hag 1:7) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
(1Co 11:27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (1Co 11:28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1Co 11:29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1Co 11:30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1Co 11:31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(2Co 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(Gal 6:3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Gal 6:4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
And one which I have chosen to save until the last because it sums up all of these in a very simple way:
(Lam 3:40) Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
We must search and examine ourselves every minute of every day. We must do our utmost to ensure the things we are doing at any time are consistent with God’s will for us, remembering the following:
(Pro 16:25) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Yours in Christ,
George