Devotionals

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Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith;…2Cor13:5a

Undoubtedly we need to be positive, confess who we are and what we have in Christ and look on the bright side. However, if we are to grow in Christ, we need to examine ourselves from time to time to see if we are in the faith. It is easy to fall in to routine and tradition that we lose sight of why we do what we do.
God has given us a mind and He expects us to use it. Faith is not against reason. The difference is that when reason fails, faith keeps on going. We are to cast down imaginations that are contrary to the word of God.

We are all mortal and fallible. But for the grace and forgiveness of God, we are no different from others. And so from time to time we will miss the mark, sin, make blunders. This is why we need to examine ourselves periodically, to see if we have erred and repent immediately when the Holy Spirit puts His finger on an area. There is nothing we can hide from God. There are sins of omission and commission which we can be guilty of. Sweeping any of these under the carpet will not do us any good. We will only be giving place to the devil- the accuser of the brethren.



He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Prov28:13
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1John1:8-10

2You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephe 4:22-32
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col3:5-14

God is merciful and faithful. He is compassionate, extraordinarily patient. He wants the best for us(Ex.34:6). But our sin do separate us from Him(Isa59:2). He wants unbroken fellowship. And when we fall we can reconnect again by admitting, confessing and forsaking the sin or weight that so easily besets and be restored.(Heb12:1)

Let us learn from David who knew how to repent and be restored to fellowship with the Lord.
Let us Pray:

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.Prov24:16a

©Fenny West


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