Self-examination
Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5(NLT) “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Introduction: I welcome you all to another glorious week at His feet as we hear Sermon from the Mount known as Beatitudes.
🙏 His words will not stand against us and we will all finish well in Jesus name.
This week from the Master, my understanding here is that there is need for self-examination by the word of God.
A mote is a tiny substance or a speck like dust while a beam is a thick bar of wood.
Thinking on Jesus’s statement from our text, it is hypocritical to get rid of a speck from other people’s eyes whereas there is thick log of wood in our own eyes. There is need for daily Self-examination by the Word.
Searching the Scriptures to assess our ways will enable us to turn to God quickly whenever we turn away from the narrow path.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
Self-examination will mirror our lives if we are still in the faith. It will prove if Christ is still in us and we are Christians indeed and not by nomenclature of men or titles.
2 Corinthians 13:5 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?
One of the things I consider as scary is what Jesus told His disciples on the Mount in Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
❓Who are those that do wonderful works in His name? Surely not unbelievers but evangelists, pastors, General overseers and founders of churches.
Doing Wonderful works like these usually make Christians to think highly of themselves and people see them as God.
We have heard where members struggled and fought for garments of men of God for miracles. These men of God boasts in these and turn ministry to merchandise.
Self-examination keeps us away from thinking that we have already arrived which gives Devil easy opportunity to fall Christians down.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
During one of our morning devotions, we were looking at an avenue for Demon possession. The study focused on alcohol as an avenue and as I was thinking in my heart that I don’t take alcohol so it doesn’t concern me; Holy Spirit said I can be drunk with what excites the flesh and Satan can gain access. I quickly examined those things that seem okay that can take control of physical life to the detriment of spiritual life; such as worldly music, film and others that give pleasures to the flesh. I then realised my error thinking that only those indulged in taking alcohol are exposed to Demons. This is how Self-examination can keep us on the narrow path to eternal life with God.
We are to prove our own Christian work and not that of others. We all have our burdens to carry to Christ and take up Christ’s burden that is light as we run our Christian race.
Galatians 6:4-5 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
✍ Finally brethren, Self-examination makes us to see others clearly with understanding and be able to correct in love without condemnation knowing we also do same thing or even worse judging by God’s standard.
Romans 2:1(NLT) You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
Therefore, let us start to mirror ourselves by Self-examination through the word of God before helping others so as not to condemn ourselves by judging their wrong doing.
✋ Maranatha
