Examine yourself
Examine Yourself
By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson
Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?
Another translation says!
Put yourself to the test and judge yourselves, to find out whether you are living in faith surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you? – unless you have completely failed.
The demands and activities of our everyday lives can easily pull us away from our focus on God.
For instance, if your work schedule and traffic situation in your area requires that you leave home early (before 6:00am) and come back late (10:pm) it would be difficult for you to have your morning devotion before leaving home and impossible for you to have an evening prayer and bible study time because you are tired.
After several months of not having quality fellowship with God, you can easily drift away from your faith. It is therefore important to test yourself and determine (judge yourself) whether you are still in the faith from time to time.
A day student or final year student may also have to start the day early and retire to bed late and have the same problems as the worker.
What can you do to help you stay in the faith in spite of your busy schedule? You can:
Reschedule your time with God
Psalm 127:2, Mark 1:35
Try and create a praise and worship atmosphere wherever you are
Psalm 22:3, Hebrews 13:15
Ensure that you are at church every Sunday
Hebrews 10:25
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Share the gospel with others to win souls
Mathew 28:19-20
Reschedule your time with God
Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so he giveth His beloved sleep.
According to the verse above it is vain to stress ourselves so much, rising up early and sleeping late. We cannot achieve success only by our own toil or hard work, it is God who blesses the work of our hands and makes its prosper. It is very important to keep this in mind. Since it is God who is going to prosper the work of our hands we need to find time to communicate with Him or stay in His presence.
If we cannot find time early in the morning as mark 1;35 say
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
You could find time doing your lunch break or whenever you are less buys during the day. It is good to have your morning devotion very early in the day but if your situation does not allow you to do so, find time by all means during the day before you retire to bed. Please do not use working hours as much as possible. Break time is the best.
Try and create a worship atmosphere throughout the day
Psalm 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
This verse above says God inhabits the praise of His people. You do not have to sing the praise yourself whilst working to distract you, you play CDs with Christians songs and sermons in your car on your way to work and back from work
Though you may be driving, you create the presence of God in your car. You could also play songs and sermons at a low volume whilst you work.
Hebrews 13:15
By Him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
The verse above emphasizes that it is important to offer sacrifice of praise to God continually. Playing Christian music and sermons can help you do this.
Ensure that you are at church every Sunday
Deuteronomy 5:12 -15
Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God………..
This passage stresses the importance of going to church or keeping the Sabbath to worship God. These days some churches have early morning services and evening services. If you have to go to work on Sundays, try the early morning service or the evening service. If you have to go to school, you can also try this.
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Proverbs 27:17 says:
“iron sharpens iron …………………………………….”
It is when you relate and worship together with other Christians that you build your faith. The sermon could touch on a problem you need to solve. A friend would give a testimony that can encourage you and build your faith. It is very important to worship with other people, congregational worship gives some blessings and breakthroughs you cannot achieve on your own.
When you light a fire all the coal burn together to make a big fire you can use for several things. But if you take one piece of coal out of the fire, it quickly goes off.
Share the gospel with others to win souls
Mathew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and the son, and the holy Ghost!……………………………….. lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
The message is simple and clear, share the message of salvation with others, God is with always to provide all you need to win souls.
Conclusion
If you follow diligently all the suggestions that have been given above, you can maintain and build your faith even in the most challenging circumstances.
References
2. Oxford English Minidictionary
3. Google.com
