A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver – Proverbs 25v11
Today we continue our devotion time in the book of Lamentations chapter 3 v40
“Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord”
All our lives we face tests – our performance at school is measured by tests and exams and there are tests to make sure we are competent at driving. But these are tests where other people make the call. There are important tests we have to make ourselves and one of these is to regularly examine ourselves and make sure there are no nasties on our skin. If I see any I seek medical help because if I fail to do so I could miss life threatening melanomas. Similarly, if we see spiritual imperfections or nasties we return to the Lord as our text tells us.
However the reality is that there are parts of our body we can’t see so we must be prepared to seek out someone we trust to examine us. So it is with our spiritual and moral condition – we resist and avoid involving others because they might point out my faults. We can either be blind to faults or overwhelmed by them. Both are wrong – we need to be honest and recognise our shortcomings, but not become overcome by guilt. We cannot afford to ignore our sin because, just like cancer, it will destroy us unless we allow the Great Physician to cut it out. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. 1 John 1v9
If we put out trust in the Lord and confess our sins, He not only forgives, but cuts out the cancer. But it’s our call whether we return to the Lord. But maybe you have never had a life changing experience with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13v5
What is this test? It is summed up in Romans 10v9. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”.
God Bless. Graeme Greenwood