Dust Off That Mirror 2016.10.14
Listen to this thinking:
"We have a mutual friend who's drunk all of the time.
If you ask them, 'do you think that you have a drinking problem?',
what do you think they'll say?
But if you ask their friends & family (the people around them),
what do you think they'll say?"
I use this often when I try to explain that we ourselves are the worst ones to ask when it comes to self-reflection. Because we are caught in the middle of it all, our viewpoints are biased. It always boils down to "no, i don't think that I'm that bad" and yet, everyone around us sees differently.
Look at 2 Corinthians 13:5:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
How often do you examine yourself, in relation to God? Now taking into account my thinking in the beginning, how often do you truly examine yourself, in relation to God? We're not talking about reflecting upon your day - This is about the most important thing in your life - Your relationship with Him. You can't cut any corners or soften any blow in re: to this. Are you submitting your life to God, or are you submitting God to your life?
We need to ask ourselves (deeply & frequently), "What kind of disciple am I?" Are we "surfacy Christians"? (meaning, we "look the part" but don't go digging thru because there isn't much there) Do we rest too much in the fact that "we're forgiven" and not in trying to combat the sin? In not confessing to & not praying with our brothers about our grievance? Do we truly hold God's Word as our own? Or do we just agree with some\most of it? Are we God's disciples by name but not by heart?
Going to church, reading your bible, or even living by a heightened moral code doesn't make us true disciples. It's our dedication to God & His word that is the true indicator in our walk.
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28
We need to listen to Jesus more than we listen to ourselves. We need to seriously & meticulously examine our christian walk, all biasness aside. We need to turn away from that which is unholy, and repent when we do. Repentance happens when we realize that we (our hearts, our walk, our actions, ...) are not in line with God. Our hearts should be jumping at the opportunity to compare ourselves to His Word. It's through this action that we will remain close to God, to remain as pure and holy as we can be, to offer up to Him our first-fruits, and to keep ourselves readily available for His blessings & protection.
So seriously: What kind of a disciple are you?
