Daily Encouragement

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

This snow blanketed farm is on Grandview Road north of Mount Joy. Many preserved farms dot our landscape and we are sure grateful for that, including this one.

Located here on Google map

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"Taking Spiritual Inventory"

Message summary: Taking spiritual inventory enables us to examine ourselves so that we can correct ourselves on a regular basis to make certain we bring glory to God in the manner in which we live our lives.

Note: Due to technical difficulties we were unable to create a podcast today. (My computers are not connecting with my Blue microphone and I need to determine if it's a Windows problem or I need to get a new microphone.)

"But let a man examine himself" (1 Corinthians 11:28a). "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?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Randy is an inventory control specialist we see at Kleen-Rite, a company that is a wholesale distributor of car wash supplies. The other day I was inquiring about his job and he told me, "I just love inventory". Now in this day with so much laxness in regard to a solid work ethic his enthusiastic assessment of his job is heartening.

An inventory control specialist tracks inventory and stock changes. Responsibilities include overseeing inventory control, managing deliveries, inspecting inventory, maintaining inventory records, and ordering products. For a well run business it is an essential and very important job. But it's a good thing that God made people with different gifts and interests because I can't see myself saying, "I just love inventory"!

But Randy's comment also prompted me to consider the vital importance of taking personal inventory of our own lives. That's not something we necessarily enjoy, but it is beneficial since it shines the light on what really matters and that which we need to lay aside and the sin that might easily entangles that keeps us from running with endurance the race that is set before us. (See Hebrews 12)

In taking personal inventory we must reflect inwardly and take stock of our lives. Personal inventory can apply to our health, finances, family, goals and many other areas of life. But today let us consider a spiritual inventory, a self examination of the most important aspect of who we are.

"But let a man examine himself." Today's first Scripture verse is in the context of partaking of Communion at the Lord's Table. Before one eats and drinks of the emblems representing the broken Body and shed blood of Christ he is instructed to "examine himself". Of utmost importance in this personal spiritual exam is the answer to these foundational questions:

* "Do I have saving faith in Christ?" (Romans 10:8,9).
* "Do I have unconfessed sin in my heart?" (1 John 1:9).

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." In the second text Paul uses two words ("examine" and "test") to emphasize his point. "Examine" is the Greek "peirazo" which conveys the sense "to scrutinize". "Test" ("prove" KJV) is the Greek "dokimazo" which has the sense of discernment. It implies the expectation of approval and is thus a very positive function. We need to regularly (I believe daily) examine and test our spiritual walk. Let's confess sin, express faith, and practice obedience daily.

This vitally important exam asks this question, "to see whether you are in the faith". Then there's a sobering follow-up question, "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"

In his article "The Place Of Self-examination" Bible teacher S. Lewis Johnson comments concerning this verse:

"There are literally millions of professing Christians who need to pay attention to this statement of the apostle. They have entered into a shallow commitment to Christianity, they’ve joined the church, they’ve been baptized or they’ve done other things that might make them think that they are genuine believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They’ve been encouraged to think that, by men who’ve not been careful to point out that, there is more to becoming a Christian than subscribing to a statement. They don’t hate sin. They don’t love holiness. They do not pray. They do not study the word of God. They do not walk humbly with God. These individuals, so many of them stand in the same danger in which the Corinthians stood. And the apostle’s words, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves,” are valid words that each of us should ponder."

Taking spiritual inventory enables us to examine ourselves so that we can correct ourselves on a regular basis to make certain we bring glory to God in the manner in which we live our lives.

Colossians 1:10-12 provides a list of examination items for our consideration. We will phrase them as personal questions:

    * Am I living in a manner worthy of the Lord?
    * Am I pleasing Him in all respects?
    * Am I bearing fruit in every good work?
    * Am I increasing in the knowledge of God?
    * Am I being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might?
    * Am I attaining steadfastness and patience?
    * Am I joyously giving thanks to the Father?

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, I ask myself, "Am I living in a manner worthy of Your name? Do I seek to please You rather than myself? Does the fruit of my labor reflect the Spirit of Christ living within my heart? Do I have a zeal for the things of Christ and a desire to know Him better, to reflect His character every day in my life? Am I steady or do I sputter in my Christian influence?" Father, in all these things I want to be more like Christ, consistent in the ways that bring glory to Your name and growth in my spiritual nature. I want my spiritual walk to be the most important pursuit of my life as I journey here below so that I may influence as many as possible to live for Jesus, for it is in His name that I pray. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Search Me O God" Video The Cathedrals (A fitting song for taking a spiritual inventory)

Taking Inventory J. Clayton Sheridan is a minister friend who went to be with the Lord on December 28 2013. He had a blog attempting to keep his light shining even in his aging years and the morning he passed away his entry was "Taking Inventory".

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