Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
Last Sunday we considered the statement from our Church Covenant that says: “we will seek to know more about God and about how to live as followers of Jesus Christ.” If we are to live authentically and effectively as followers of Jesus, from time to time we need to examine ourselves to see how we are doing in this regard. As II Cor. 13:5 states, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
As we observed Sunday, we examine ourselves not only to be sure we have a saving faith in Jesus, but also that we are living on the basis of that faith, that we are growing in the faith and as followers of Jesus. So, how do we do that? How can we rightly examine ourselves so we gain a clear picture of the nature of our discipleship and the degree to which we are following Jesus in all of life?
Some things are fairly obvious. For instance, we can ask ourselves if we are we spending regular time in prayer and the study of God’s word so our relationship with God can be nurtured and we have a solid foundation out of which we live our lives? Are we serving with the gifts God has given us?
Then, there are some other questions we can ask ourselves that will help reveal the nature of our spiritual development. Some such questions are:
1. To what or whom do my thoughts turn to most frequently?
2. What do I value the most?
3. What would I hate most to lose?
4. What gives me the greatest pleasure?
5. Am I easily irritated by relatively minor things?
6. Am I harboring resentment or unforgiveness in my heart?
7. To what degree am I marked by anger, and what does that anger do to me as well as to others?
8. What occupies most of my free time?
On the one hand, these are not necessarily “spiritual” questions; non-believers could ask these questions of themselves to determine the state of the lives. But for those of us who are followers of Jesus, to honestly answer these questions will give us insight into the quality of our discipleship, for following Jesus involves the whole of our lives.
So let us all, from time to time, set aside some time to reflect on questions such as these, and then ask God to help us in any areas we need to change. And remember, this is really all about grace. It’s the grace God gives us to become what we could never be on our own, and in the process, to become a more authentic follower of and witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob