“1Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU?— unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corin. 13:5) 1peirazō: to test the truth of. Why do you think we are being asked to test ourselves? Let’s look at the Church of Laodicea, Jesus said to them, “Behold, I stand AT THE DOOR and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will COME IN TO HIM and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20) Jesus was standing OUTSIDE of them trying to get back in, were they ok? NO! That is why we must exmaine ourselves!!!
Jesus was asked by the religious leaders what the most important commandment was, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with ALL your HEART, SOUL and MIND.’ This is the first and GREATEST commandment. And the second is like it: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:37-39) So, we can test ourselves by the way we love God and others. Paul said, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can MOVE MOUNTAINS, but DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING.” (1 Corin. 13:1-2)
Jesus taught us our NUMBER ONE priority is to LOVE, why is this? Because “GOD IS LOVE.” (1 John 4:16) “Love is PATIENT, KIND…is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude. It DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but REJOICES IN TRUTH. Love NEVER GIVES UP, never LOSES FAITH, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance…LOVE NEVER FAILS.“ (1 Corin. 13:4-8)
LET’S MAKE SURE WE ARE PRACTICING GODLY LOVE…
-Bill Stockham