(Photo by Ben Karpinski on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible)
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?
God is calling you to examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith. Ask yourself, are you obeying what He is asking you to do? Since we still struggle with sin, it should not be difficult to find an area where you are falling short. For example, have you complained today? The Bible tells us to do all things without complaining (Philippians 2:14). When you complain, you are falling short of God’s perfect standard of holiness.
But don’t despair. Confess your sin to God and agree with Him that you have fallen short of His commands. He promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to walk in God’s ways and stop complaining. Surrender to Him in humility. Over time, as you depend on Him and obey His Word, you will grow spiritually.
Ask yourself each day where you have fallen short of God’s Word, and confess your sins to Him. However, keep in mind that this is about sanctification, not justification. When you put your faith in Christ, you are saved by His grace. You do not need to be saved again every time you sin. God is not expecting you to achieve sinless perfection in this life, but His will is for you to grow in holiness and become more like Christ.
As you examine yourself, make sure your confidence is in Jesus Christ, not in your own performance. Look to His Word, confess your sins and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you grow in obedience. Follow His guidance and allow Him to continue transforming your life. ~ Jeff M Newman
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Observe Jesus’ Commands
Pray privately and not to be seen by others.
Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV) “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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Lesson 47 - 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour...
Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.
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