2 Corinthians 13 - 11.21.24
S - 2 Corinthians 13:5-10
5 Examine yourselves 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? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
O – Paul asks the Corinthian Christians to consider a sobering question: “Am I really a Christian?” We are rightly concerned that every believer has the assurance of salvation and knows how to endure the attacks that come in this area from Satan. At the same time we also understand that there are some who assume or presume they are Christians when they are not.
To examine yourself, in fact, is to submit to the examination and scrutiny of Jesus Christ the Lord — and this never to fix attention on sin but on Christ — and to ask Him to reveal that in you which grieves His Spirit; to ask Him to give you grace that it might be put away and cleansed in His precious blood.” Self examination “takes the chill away from your soul, it takes the hardness away from your heart, it takes the shadows away from your life, it sets the prisoner free.
Unless indeed you are disqualified: Paul knew there were some among the Corinthian Christians who were disqualified for eternal life and salvation. Their thinking was worldly because they were of the world, not of the Lord. This is a hard truth to confront, but it is better to know now than when it is too late. The word for disqualified is simply the negative of the word for test in this same passage. If we don’t examine ourselves and test ourselves now, we may find that we ultimately don’t pass the test and are disqualified. (Blueletterbible.org)
A – We are often eagerly ready to examine and test others, aren’t we? It’s easy to see the wrongs (the sins) that others are doing, but how often to we sit back, take a pause, and ask God, “What in my life is not pleasing to you? What do I need to do to get right with you?”
Mt. 7:5 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
We should be examining and testing ourselves first! The Corinthians were criticizing Paul and not taking the time to examine themselves. I think this is still a big problem in the churches today. Everyone is so quick to let someone else know what they should change in their lives, without changing what is wrong in their own lives. This creates division, anger, resentments and is not what God intends. May we take the time each day to just ask God to point us to the area(s) in our lives that we are grieving His heart and to repent, ask for forgiveness, and watch God move amongst us in a powerful way.
P – Lord forgive me for those times that I am quick to see the faults of others, the sins in others, and not in myself. Help me to view myself and others through Godly eyes and not worldly eyes. May I encourage my brothers and sisters and lift them up the way Paul was trying to do, and not tear any of them down with my words or my actions. May we all take the time to ask you each day what things you want removed from our lives and what you want added. Help us to confess our sins, repent, and turn away from those things for good! Lord, I don’t want to be disqualified at the end of my life. I want to live for you and make you proud. Thank you that your grace and mercies are made new each day and that it is NEVER too late to change our lives and be exactly who You call us to be! Amen.
- Crystal Flory
