How often do we search ourselves like the Psalmist said, 'To see if there be any wicked way in the inner heart?' We often with cursory praise tell others "Bless the Lord." But are these just mere expressions? With slight prayers we ask God to forgive us but we are, at the same time, suppressing thoughts, motives and dreams (dead or abandoned). After performing we are back pretending to be wonderful again.
Today some churches are changing the standards so that we feel we are no longer falling short: yet we don't connect our daily lives as an actual testimony, we don't understand how merciful God has been with each one of us, the more we ought to be willing to extend mercy to others. The bar has been set so low that now the goal is too low. We are satisfied and complacent, happy to be considered a normal Christian, having no feelings of wretchedness, only high self-esteem.
But this high esteem we have of ourselves have left us naked forgetting It is the righteousness of Jesus that covers. Shouldn't we move beyond self-preservation to concern for others? Brotherly love should not be restricted to interpersonal relations (husbands, daughters, close friends), but extended to include those persons not known to us directly. In this, we learn of His power in our weakness and what it means to care for the afflictions of others. But we cannot do anything if we focus too much on ourselves, not daring to die to self, while looking where our Lord leads.
2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” Paul encourages believers to continually test their hearts. Where sin exists our response is the light of the gospel. As a Christians, we should be a beacon of light to this dark world. Therefore, let us prostrate at His feet allowing His light to expose our shame and our failings. These failings should not occupy our minds to condemn us but to lead us to repentance. Let us not linger in sin but turn to the Lord. Let us beseech him to know His work and complete it. To God's Glory and Honour, may we live a life worthy of the calling we have received
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