A Spiritual Checkup {2 Corinthians 13}
12:00 PM
Monday May 11, “Walking In Wisdom”
A few years back I had to have some testing done on my heart. And although the process was worrisome and a little painful, I was rewarded with a good report from the cardiologist. “Everything looks normal”, he said as he went over the findings. “And because you got these tests done, you now know you have a healthy heart. And that’s great news. Because if your heart isn’t healthy, the rest of your body won’t be healthy either.” Our physical heart health, and the care we give it, is very important; especially as we age. But just as important is our spiritual heart health. For as Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Because some members of the Corinthian church were still continuing to walk in sin after having been saved, Paul wrote a stern letter to them warning that he would soon be returning to Corinth for a third time. And this time warnings would be replaced with consequences. “I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone.” (vs. 2) So before he arrives, Paul urges now would be the perfect time for a spiritual check up. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (vs. 5) But it’s not only the Corinthians who needed to test their hearts, so do we. We too need to ask ourselves, “Is Jesus in me? Is my heart healthy?”
So how do we go about giving our hearts a checkup? By asking the great Physician. “Search me O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any hurtful way in me. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.” (Ps. 139:23,24, Ps. 26:2) When we ask, through the Holy Spirit, God will show us the areas that need our immediate attention. And when He gives us His findings, it’s our job in loving obedience and repentance to examine, “everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good, and abstain from every evil.” (1 Thess. 5:21-22) Another good test of our spiritual health is the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit manifested in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” If we are truly filled with Jesus, these fruits will flow freely from ours hearts to others.
“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!” (Lam. 3:40) One day very soon Jesus will come back. And on His final triumphant return, like Paul, the warnings He gave will turn into consequences for those who rejected His gift of salvation. Now is the time for a spiritual checkup. Time to take stock of our hearts and be sure they reflect the image of the Lord, so that we will not “fail the test” and find ourselves “disqualified”. And until that glorious day of our Savior’s coming, in the beautiful words of Paul may, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” vs. 14)
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