11 OCT 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” 1 Cor. 11:31-32
Every year around July or early August, we would have to take our children to the doctor for their annual checkups before starting back to school. You could feel the tension in the car, so thick you could cut it with a knife. Why? The kids knew from experience that the likelihood a shot was involved was pretty good. They would ask, so why does the Doc need to see us? Will there be a shot? Until you graduate from high school, there is going to be some kind of shot.
The Doctor also looks at how you are growing, developing mentally and physically, and preparing your body to fight against the viruses that are coming. He does this to gauge overall health and to reveal to us the truth of our current condition and areas to improve. This is a good thing even though we don’t like the potential pain of it. Such is the way of a spiritual examination.
How often do you take time for introspection or self-examination? What is the condition of your mind and soul? God calls us all to know ourselves, our nature, our mindset, and our motivations. How are we applying the word and disciplines of the faith to our lives in order to be strong and to prepare ourselves against the fight that comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil? This is an important task that can be painful if God has to discipline us.
Paul told a group of believers that they were actually doing something spiritually that was wrong and it was actually affecting their relationships and body to the point of death. He told them to examine their lives and make the changes necessary to honor God, their neighbor, and their own body. Believers will not be condemned like the world (non-believers) for they are condemned already. Believers will be corrected and directed back on the path that leads to life.
Have you examined yourself spiritually lately?
Reading Plan: Psalm 119:145-176; 2 Kings 22:14-23:3; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; Matt 9:9-17
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