Test yourselves {to see} if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB)

How long has it been since you considered possible reactions to being tested?  Do you remember your days in school and that big test you found yourself facing?  It wasn’t just one, but many…  And there are many kinds of tests.  And each is intended to determine if you measure up to a particular standard.  During my Air Force career I served with one particular commander who encouraged us to view each evaluation or inspection as an opportunity to excel.  Unfortunately the reaction that occurs most often is a sense of fear or uncertainty in having someone reveal, uncover our shortcomings and weaknesses.  We don’t want others to know who we really are! 

Now, let’s review the words of Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth.  His exhortation was to be tested, to be examined!!  Remarkably, he didn’t say to submit to others for this and he didn’t say we are to evaluate others, but rather you are to evaluate yourself!  It is up to us to make the determination whether or not we “are in the faith”, that “Christ Jesus is in us”.  Are you ready to find out the results of this evaluation?  Can you “handle the truth” of your test results?  If so, you need to know what that examination consists of.  You need to know what questions must be answered.  Let’s look at a few…

Am I Spirit-led; — Romans 8:14; Am I striving to please God in all things; — Ephesians 5:10; Am I cultivating a constant awareness of God’s presence in my life; — Gen. 28:16; Do I read and love the Scriptures more than any other book; — Psalm 1:2; Do I live in the Spirit of prayer; — Ephesians 6:18; Do I really deny myself for the sake of Christ;  — Mark 8:34; Do I relish religious conversation; — Malachi 3:16; Do I have upon my heart a burden for lost souls; — Jer. 9:1; Do I live each day in a state of preparation to meet God; — Amos 4:12; again, these are but a few.*

How did you do?  Are you demonstrating a faith apparent to others?  Paul was and makes it clear to his readers in 2 Corinthians 13:6 when he said “But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.”  May God be with you always, and especially in your introspection.

Copyright © 2010, Nolan P. Rutter (* – Sourced from Sermon Outline by Jerry Carmichael)