25 Oct November 28th Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIAN CHURCH

EXAMINE YOURSELF

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 “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?  And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.”

The dictionary defines the word examine as “inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine their nature or condition; to investigate thoroughly.” The Greek to English lexicon says that the Greek word translated with the English word examine means, “to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing.”

In today’s devotional verse, St. Paul exhorts you to “examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith.”  This is a critical examination that needs to be done on a very regular basis.  Whether you are “in the faith” determines your ultimate eternal residence.  “In the faith” means that you are a believer in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and that your eternal residence will be with Him and all the saints in heaven.

There are tools to assist you with examining yourself.  In The Lutheran Service Book (LSB – hymnal), on pages 329 and 330 are a series of twenty questions, known as “Christian Questions and their answers.”  Using these will assist you in examining yourself to see the sins you have committed, for the Holy Spirit to bring you to confess and repent of them and then by the power of the gospel, remembering your baptism receive God’s forgiveness.

There is also in LSB, pages 292-293, a guide for individual confession and absolution.  This can be used by either your pastor or a trusted fellow Christian to assist you in confessing your sins and receiving absolution.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, through God’s Law enable me to recognize my sin and through the Gospel His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, think on me And purge away my sin;

From worldly passions set me free And make me pure within.

Lord Jesus, think on me, By anxious thoughts oppressed;

Let me Your loving servant be And taste Your promised rest.

Lord Jesus, think on me Amid the battle’s strife;

In all my pain and misery, O be my health and life!

Lord Jesus, think on me Nor let me go astray;

Through darkness and perplexity Point out Your chosen way.

Lord Jesus, think on me That, when this life is past,

I may the eternal brightness see And share Your joy at last.

(LSB 610)