2 Corinthians 13:5 - New Years Resolutions
Test yourselves And find out if you really are true to your
faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in
you. 2 Cor 13:5 (CEV)
Just as we get physical check-ups, Paul urges us to give
ourselves spiritual checkups. We should look for a growing awareness of
Christ's presence and power in our lives. Only then will we know if we
are true Christians or merely imposters. If we're not taking active
steps to grow closer to God, we are drawing further away from him.
[Life Application SB]
CHRISTIAN CHECK UP: mark the items that are true of your
relationship with God:
1. I understand God better now than when I first stated
learning about Him.
2. I genuinely enjoy being involved in activities related to my
faith.
3. God helps me love and care for people.
4. My relationships are better as a result of my faith in God.
5. I understand Scripture better than I used to.
6. I ask God to help me solve problems.
7. My friends and family know I'm a Christian.
8. I take time each day to pray.
9. I know God loves me.
10. I ask God to forgive me when I do something wrong.
11. I am honest with God about my feelings.
12. I tell people about Jesus.
13. My relationship with God deeply influences my actions.
Now rate yourself:
6-13; Your faith is definitely growing. You are experiencing
the type of growth described in Act.19:1-7.
3 - 5; Be careful that your faith is not stagnating. Read the
items you didn't checkmark, and begin building those things into your
life. Be encouraged by Act.19:1-7.
0 - 2; Your faith is wilting. Water it with the Word of God and
get involved with other Christians soon - before your faith withers.
Be challenged by Act.19:1-7. [Youth SB; p.1128]
There is a necessity for close self-examination, and to closely
investigate in the light of God's word, Am I sound, or am I rotten, at
heart? Am I renewed in Christ, or am I still carnal at heart, with an
outside, new dress put on? Rein yourself up to the tribunal of God, and
see as in the light of God if there is any secret sin, any iniquity,
any idol you have not sacrificed. Pray, yes, pray as you have never
prayed before, that you may not be deluded by Satan's devices; that you
may not be given up to a heedless, careless, and vain spirit
MYP83,4
Closely examine your own heart, and the state of your affections
toward God. Inquire, Have I devoted the precious moments of today in
seeking to please myself, seeking for my own amusement? or have I made
others happy? Have I helped those connected with me to greater devotion
to God and to appreciate eternal things? Have I brought my religion
into my home, and there revealed the grace of Christ in my words and
in my deportment?....Have I cheerfully taken up my little, everyday
duties, performing them with fidelity, doing what I could to lighten the
burdens of others? Have I kept my lips from evil, and my tongue from
speaking guile? Have I honored Christ my Redeemer, who gave His precious
life that eternal life might be within my reach? MYP122
Let every soul carefully consider his condition, and inquire,
What is my state before God? Let him examine closely what kind of
material he is bringing into his character-building. Is it that which
can be compared to solid timbers, or that which can only be likened
to that which is rotten and worm-eaten? We are charged in the word
of God to "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life." The unconverted heart is the habitation of the evil
one, and it is filled with unholy thoughts, with evil surmisings,
envy, jealousy, falsehood, and uncontrolled passions, with strife and
confusion and every evil work. Let each one search diligently, and
inquire, Is my heart free from all these? Let each one closely examine
himself to see whether he is in the faith, whether the truth which he
professes to believe has been kept in the outer court, or brought into the
inner sanctuary of the soul, that he may be sanctified thereby. The
whole heart must be entered and purified by the searching Spirit of
God. Jesus will not abide in the soul where pride exists; and if we
desire his presence, the soul temple must be cleansed of all evil
occupants. If the door of the heart is open to Jesus, he will come in, and
his presence will expel every unholy thought, and by faith we may
hold sweet communion with God. If Jesus abides in the heart, we
shall glorify him in our lives; for the Christian is to let his light
shine forth to the world in good works. PH152P30,31
Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very
first work. Let your prayer be, "Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I
lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide
with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee." This is a daily
matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender
all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His
providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into
the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more
after the life of Christ. Steps to Christ p.70
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