Twin City church of Christ Blog
“July 9, 2024 - Examine Yourselves”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsExamine Yourselves
Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:5-14
The Corinthians, agitated by some who deny Paul’s apostolic authority, have been examining his credentials (2 Cor 13:3). Paul turns the tables: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”(2 Cor 13:5). Rather than focusing on Paul, they should take an introspective look at themselves. Is Jesus alive in them? Are they following Jesus’ words? Now, assuming that they would affirm that they are, Paul makes his point: “I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed”(2 Cor 13:6-7). If Jesus is alive in the Corinthians, then Paul and his apostolic companions (who preached the gospel to them) must be in the faith too! How could they have effectively taught the Corinthians about Jesus if they are not in the faith?
In closing the letter, Paul reaffirms that he loves them and is willing to lower himself to bless them. “For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for”(2 Cor 13:9). Paul wants them to follow Jesus more closely, correcting the errors in judgment and relationships that this letter has addressed. This is his prayer. He closes his letter with a greeting that reaffirms that despite their differences, everyone involved is still a follower of Jesus: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”(2 Cor 13:14).
The Corinthian problem persists in our time. We tend to spend a lot of time examining and correcting others, often bypassing self-examination. There is value in scrutinizing our own relationships with God—individually and as a congregation. Is Jesus Christ in me? Am I following his word? Before I criticize others, have I examined myself?
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One Thing to Think About: In what ways do I try to avoid self-examination?
One Thing to Pray For: The honesty to apply the truth to myself first
