This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. 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? (2 Corinthians 13:1-5)
Today's Morsel: Probably one of the toughest things for most people to do is to conduct a true and honest assessment of oneself. It's like taking the spiritual gift test, we usually answer based on what we feel at the moment and what may be true. This is why it's easy to point the finger at others and their shortcomings then our own. Every time I counsel with someone and ask for their shortcomings and error in the situation , it is never their complete fault. It always seems to be someone else's fault for their failure or mistakes. They say, My dad was a drunk and so I started drinking at a young age; or Everyone else was doing it and so I just thought it was alright to do it. Why didn't they get in trouble? My dad had sexually explicit magazines around the house and in his vehicle and so I started getting into pornography. My house isn't clean because the kids just throw stuff on the floor and my spouse never clean-ups after themself. My spouse is so lazy. My boss is prejudice. Nobody likes me. My co-workers are always saying things and doing things and there is no way I can work around them. The excuse/justification list is long and plenty. But Paul said that we need to examine ourselves. Because, if we are in the faith and walking according to that faith, he said, "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). To be in the faith is to walk according to the faith. Our actions, attitude, aspiration all reflect the faith that we believe in. When you are in the faith you are submitted and committed to the things of God. Your affections are on things above. You are about the kingdom of God and not the kingdom of man. You work in unity and harmony with those on your team. You seek to make everything you do better. John said, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6). If we are in the faith, shouldn't we be living and walking as Christ did? Should not our lives be filled with truth, love, mercy, grace, compassion, forgiveness, and passion? Should not the fruit of the Spirit be in operation in our lives. James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2). Therefore, faith without action is just believing. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. But your faith stands in the demonstration and power of Almighty God.
Sing: Faith can move mountains, mountains of fear and of doubt; faith can move mountains, so why don't you try your faith out.
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