i:60 Self Examination

i:60 SELF EXAMINATION

Today, a thought came to me: how do we know if we have become prideful? It sounds a little obvious - pride is pride, right? But if you say you're not being prideful, it's almost like you are being prideful. It's like saying, 'I think I'm a pretty humble individual.' Nothing is more annoying than being around a person who likes to brag or thinks they know everything. I've been around many people in my life and have found pride to be disguised in many different ways, but the worst one I've found, in my opinion, is the pride of oneself, like myself, in not assuming I am being prideful. I hate this type of pride, and when I say I hate it, I mean I hate it in myself more than I hate it in others.. Specifically, when it evolves into something unrecognizable in my life but very recognizable among others. A follower of Christ is most ineffective in sharing the love for Christ when he or she becomes intolerable to be around, or worse, people just put up with their prideful behavior, which makes this person more unaware of this fault that they display. As for me, I never want to be this guy, but according to some people in my life, there are times I become 'that guy.' Kind of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. What frustrates me most is that the reputation of pride lingers far longer than the reputation of humility. I really hate when this ugly character rears its head in my life because it is the complete opposite person I desire to be. Because of this, I have had to learn how to do a self-examination of my desired spiritual character in comparison to the true reality of my spiritual character. I'm sure there are many ways one could examine themselves, but here is one that I have been using lately. It comes in the form of three questions. First question: 'Today, when someone said you were wrong, disagreed, or confronted you, what was your first 'knee-jerk' feeling or feelings?' Be honest. Second, 'How and what did you say to respond back to that person?' Really think about it. Third and final question: 'After this interaction, how did you process and resolve the outcome? I'm sure some of you right now are compiling a defense towards these three questions. But that is the whole point - when you surrender to God, there is nothing left of yourself to defend. All that matters is the person who is standing right before you in the interaction that you are having. Please don't take this wrong. There have been times when people have wrongfully accused me of being prideful and knowing that they were just projecting their own hurt, insecurity, or jealousy towards me at the time. But even in this case, it does not matter. In whatever situation we find ourselves, it is an opportunity to not make it about ourselves but rather make it about the possibility of winning a person over to Jesus by the character of Christ being displayed through us, which should be an exhibition of His grace and drawing them even closer by what is inside us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control. Anything other than this is from our former self, and if you want to examine yourself in those behaviors, you can find them just above the fruit of the spirit verses in Galatians 5:19-21. I encourage all my brothers and sisters to examine themselves; Paul mentions this, making it a fundamental practice in our daily walk with Christ. This is what he says.

“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!

It was also important to the apostle John in writing of the entirety of 1 John but drawing our attention Chapter 1 verse 6 “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”2 Corinthians 13:5

So how do we do this? By having an amazing and honest relationship with authentic brothers and sisters in Christ. Is this even possible? The best example that I could find in the most awkward situation was this little interaction between Paul and Peter

“Verse 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?” Galatians 2:11-14

I wonder what Peter’s knee jerk feeling was towards Paul at this moment? I’m not sure but Peter was just as human as you and I. Remember, this what God's abundant grace is all about. We can ask God to examine it hearts knowing that He is faithful to His words.

I'm going to conclude here, but I want to leave you with one additional tool that may help in making better decisions when wanting to display more of Jesus's character rather than your own. Ask yourself these questions and remind yourself of these verses; use them as a filter in refining your character and responses to become more like Christ.

Remove the drama, Satan is your enemy not the person in front of you. (Matt 16:23)

and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5 (Christian standard)

What do we subject the captive thought to?
-Is it beneficial and helpful?
-Is it enslaving?
-Does it edify and build up?

1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23 both address Christian liberty with the phrase, "All things are lawful," but clarify that not everything is beneficial, constructive, or permissible if it masters the believer or harms others. Paul emphasizes that freedom in Christ should be used for building up the church and glorifying God, rather than selfish indulgence.

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. / Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. / For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”Romans 15:1-3 

-Does it hinder the Spiritual growth of others in Christ? 1 Cor. 8:13