Put yourselves to the test and judge yourselves, to find out whether you are living in faith. Surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you? – unless you have completely failed.  2 Corinthians 13:5, GNT

 

Sometimes I wonder if we attempt to avoid the more challenging questions about faith and how we should incorporate it into our daily lives. One day, I mentioned to a church minister friend that I had enjoyed listening to a sermon on the radio and found it quite impactful. To my surprise, he had also listened to the same sermon but had a different perspective. I was shocked when he described it as more of a motivational talk than a sermon.

 

What Paul said to the members of the Corinthian church was quite direct and certainly not a motivational speech: “Put yourselves to the test and judge yourselves.” These members raised various questions about Pauls’ ministry, his preaching and his role as an apostle. Now, it was Paul’s turn to challenge them to examine if their way of living aligned with their beliefs. Over the past few weeks, we have focused on our roles as builders of the church, the body of Christ on earth. Perhaps we should also take a moment to assess our own abilities to contribute to the “building team”. Has our apprenticeship under the guidance of the Holy Spirit made us competent builders?

 

What would such a test look like? The Bible provides us with a guideline.

 

This test consists of a single question. Can I say with absolute certainty that Jesus is at the centre of my life? Not just on Sundays, not only during times of crisis or when I urgently need something, or when I have to make a big decision, but every day, in every aspect of my life?

 

The test does not ask if I am extremely holy, but only if Jesus, through his Spirit, is at the centre of my life in every moment.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for your guidance as I take this test daily, and I ask for your help in passing it with distinction. Amen.