There is a story that made the rounds a few years ago that is a little amusing but, also makes a pretty good point we all need to think about. That story is about a young boy that walked into a drugstore and asked to use the telephone. Upon getting permission he took the receiver and said, “Operator, give me number 604. Hello, Dr. Anderson, do you want to hire a boy to cut the grass, milk the cow and run errands for you? Oh, you already have a boy. Dr. Anderson are you completely satisfied with the boy you have? Ok, then bye doctor.” As the boy thanked the pharmacist and started out the door. The pharmacist called to him, “Just a minute son, if you are looking for work, I could use a boy like you.” Thank you sir, replied the boy, but I already have a job.” “Didn’t I just hear you trying to get a job with Dr. Anderson?” “No sir”, said the boy, “You see, I’m the boy working for Dr. Anderson and I was just checking up on myself.”
This story really points out the need for checking up on ourselves. Checkups are required in nearly every part of our world today. Every company has those whose job is to check up on all the aspects of that company - finances, employees, products, etc. Now, do we really ever give thought to the need to check up on ourselves spiritually? Do we ever really just stop and give ourselves a good spiritual examination? We are actually commanded to do just this in God’s word! Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 where he says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?” How can one be “in the faith?” How can one be sure they are living exactly as God and His Son Jesus Christ would have them to? Only one way! We must be deep into God’s word. If we do not know God’s word then we cannot know whether we are right or wrong in what we are doing or not doing. But, it isn’t enough to just know God’s word, that word must be applied, lived out in our lives. The apostle Paul also speaks to this in Philippians 2:12 where he said, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Now, Paul is not saying work so as to earn salvation but work to apply the Word to our lives. The only way to check up on ourselves, to test ourselves is to compare our lives to God’s word. We must remember it is by the words of Jesus that we will be judged at the end of time. “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” (John 12:48). Paul tells us how this all works out in 2 Timothy 2:15 where he said, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Want to check up on yourself? Get into God’s word!!
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
This story really points out the need for checking up on ourselves. Checkups are required in nearly every part of our world today. Every company has those whose job is to check up on all the aspects of that company - finances, employees, products, etc. Now, do we really ever give thought to the need to check up on ourselves spiritually? Do we ever really just stop and give ourselves a good spiritual examination? We are actually commanded to do just this in God’s word! Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 where he says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?” How can one be “in the faith?” How can one be sure they are living exactly as God and His Son Jesus Christ would have them to? Only one way! We must be deep into God’s word. If we do not know God’s word then we cannot know whether we are right or wrong in what we are doing or not doing. But, it isn’t enough to just know God’s word, that word must be applied, lived out in our lives. The apostle Paul also speaks to this in Philippians 2:12 where he said, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Now, Paul is not saying work so as to earn salvation but work to apply the Word to our lives. The only way to check up on ourselves, to test ourselves is to compare our lives to God’s word. We must remember it is by the words of Jesus that we will be judged at the end of time. “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” (John 12:48). Paul tells us how this all works out in 2 Timothy 2:15 where he said, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
Want to check up on yourself? Get into God’s word!!
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
RSS Feed