Have You Truly Examined Yourself?

1 Corinthians 11:31 says:

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

In the above texts, I cannot help but wonder just how much time we spend evaluating ourselves and our faith?  Are we really the Christians we think we are or proclaim to be?

I think of this as I examine my own walk with Christ and when I try and evaluate myself and determine where I think I am with my walk, there is a parable that Jesus told that comes to mind:

Matthew 13: 3 – 9

(3) And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; (4) And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up. (5) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. (6) And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. (7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them. (8) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. (9) Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What does that Parable mean?

Matthew 13: 19 – 23 says:

(19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (20) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

So, I guess the challenge is, when you truly examine yourself, which of the “seeds” do you think best describes you and your relationship with Christ?

by Eric Bell, head of the Parking Team @ MBC Loudoun