Introspection Is Seldom Painless But Always Beneficial

2 Corinthians 13:5: "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?"


I have always said that introspection is seldom painless but always beneficial. When we peel away the exterior facade to peer into the true person within, we then are getting to the place where our true identity is found. And whereas we might be apt to present ourselves as moral, good people, who are we when we look deep within ourselves? Do we find a person who, though not perfect, is surrendered to Christ as Lord and is following Him in obedience? Do we find a person with sinister intent to assert his own quest for lordship above all other persons and things?

The Apostle Paul warns us of the importance of examining ourselves to see "whether you are in the faith." For Paul, this involves a testing. Whereas Paul did not explicitly say what the testing is, the following verse suggests a holding fast to allegiance to Christ even in the midst of challenge and difficulty. I often have said that true character is revealed in times of tribulation and temptation. Who you are under those difficult circumstances is a good indicator of who you really are. Particularly, when you face those situations, are you steadfast in your loyalty to your Master and Savior? Do you capitulate to the circumstances that come your way? Do you sense the convicting power of the Lord and do you respond with repentance and resolution to do what is pleasing to the Lord? Or do you enjoy the way that you respond selfishly to the situation and have no intent of changing your response, because in reality it's your own lordship that you are pursuing.

These are not easy questions to answer, but they are of utmost importance, for we do not want to find ourselves before a Holy God one day unable to present ourselves as the beneficiaries of God's grace through Jesus Christ. Test yourself through introspection. Though this is likely not to be a pain-free experience, it is the best thing that you can do to determine who you really are.

Don't Believe Everything You See and Hear

2 Corinthians 11:14-15: "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."

If there is one certainty about Satan, it is that he is one who is crafty and deceptive. And as the great 16th-century reformer, Martin Luther, exclaimed, Satan is "armed with cruel hate." He truly hates the followers of Christ and his goal is to inject havoc and confusion into the Church by masquerading as an angel of light. His primary resources at his disposal to accomplish his bidding are his followers. They present themselves as people of righteousness, only to reveal their sinister nature later. How many times have we seen a person assimilate within a church and cause havoc within its walls? How many times have we seen a person exclaim their allegiance to Christ, only to reveal later by their actions that they are pursuing a clandestine, destructive agenda and are looking for followers? How many people have we observed in our society label themselves as Christian, but propagate ideologies that clearly are in defiance to the precepts found in God's Word? Such people are deceptive and vain; they are instruments of the Evil One to cause dissension and confusion for the Church. The Church must discern such apostates and keep clear of their influences; otherwise, heartache is the natural consequence.

We must remember that not everyone who espouses Christianity is in fact a true follower of Jesus Christ. Their fruit, observed over a period of time, will reveal their intent. Of course, the Lord will not be mocked by such rebellion. As the Scripture says above, they will receive in the end what their actions deserve.

Again, it can not be reiterated enough. When these "wolves in sheeps' clothing" infiltrate our assemblies, we are not to be swayed by their vain philosophies and charismatic personalities; rather, we are to remain steadfast in our allegiance to the Lord and His will as communicated to us in His Word. To Christ we must find our foundation, otherwise we will fall into the trap that the Evil One continually lays before us, through his emissaries that he sends our way.

When Trickery is Love

2 Corinthians 12:14-17,19: "Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? . . . . Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening."

If there was a church to which the Apostle Paul endeared himself, it was the church at Corinth. Paul had visited with the church several times, and most assuredly it was a momentous task of ministry for him. This church struggled with the wayward, immoral influences of the pagan city in which it was found, and Paul lovingly and repeatedly confronted them with these issues (see I Corinthians 5 & 6).

These Corinthians also had fallen prey to the prevailing opinion that great philosophers were ones who spoke with great oratory and would never stoop to working for income. Sages of the day would expect their community to remunerate them for their sagacity. Of course, Paul was just the opposite of this. He did not speak in the stylistic eloquence of the philosophers (1 Cor. 2:4); instead, he only desired to preach the simplicity of the precious gospel of the Lord (1 Cor. 9:16). Paul also did not exploit his position to gain materially from the people; instead, he worked among them to provide for his necessities (1 Cor. 9:15). Ironically, such behavior caused the Corinthian church to question his status as a philosopher (for no good philosopher would stoop to such measures). And as a result, they withheld their affection and appreciation from him (2 Cor. 6:12). They also would demand proof that in fact God was speaking through him (2 Cor. 13:3).

Paul would respond to them by saying that he did not want to be a burden to them by using up their possessions; instead, the apostle loved the people, and he was willing to give all that he had (including himself) for their benefit. Paul also mentioned that he was a crafty man who engaged in trickery. This was not designed to deceive the people; rather, Paul wanted to share the precious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to his hearers. Whereas it appeared that Paul was attempting to defend himself, he used such opportunity as a platform to get God's truth to those who needed the Light of life for their strengthening against the enticements of the Evil One.

This is a wonderful depiction of a loving spiritual leader who endeared himself to those he loved. Though the Apostle Paul was not as impressive as the philosophers of the day, he made a tremendous impact on the people because he truly cared for the people and wanted to see them shine for the Lord. Paul was willing to give everything in order that God would be glorified through the church's surrender and obedience (1 Cor. 9:22). As we live our lives, may we have the same sense of purpose in being a conduit through which God might pour out His truth and love to those around us.

Godly Sorrow Versus Worldly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:10-11: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter."

There truly is a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.

Godly sorrow is sadness at one's offense against God.
Worldly sorrow could care less if God is offended.

Godly sorrow brings determination to change one's sinful ways.
Worldly sorrow is only upset at the consequences.

Godly sorrow understands that one is to be surrendered to Christ.
Worldly sorrow sees self as the one on the throne.

Godly sorrow brings an earnestness and longing to do what's right.
Worldly sorrow is the product of one who hates he got caught.

Godly sorrow brings indignation toward sin in the future.
Worldly sorrow would never be sorrow if the person could get away with the action.

Godly sorrow brings the Lord's forgiveness which leads to salvation.
Worldly sorrow brings eternal death.

May we all examine ourselves to see the type of sorrow we have, when we sin against the Lord.

Unhealthy Alliances

2 Corinthians 6:14-17, 7:1: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? . . . . What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.' . . . . Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

These verses have been the preeminent ones to warn true followers of Jesus Christ from entering into marital relationships with unbelievers. It is true that entering into the holy covenant of marriage with an unbeliever is not a wise thing, for that unbeliever is not yielded to Christ as Lord and is not directed by the conviction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Rather, he is directed by his own sinful, selfish ways that are contrary to the will of God. This type of union most assuredly leads to disaster.

Still, when one references the Old Testament passage that Paul cites in these verses above, we find that the book of Isaiah is quoted. Isaiah lived 700 years before Paul, during an era when the people of Israel and Judah had assimilated with the pagan Canaanites of the region. As a result, these chosen people of God had become a "sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt . . . forsaking the Lord and spurning the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 1:4). They were a despicable sight . . . propagating their own carnal wills over submission to God's will, and they would not hear the prophetic warnings of God's prophets, calling them back into intimate fellowship with the Lord. Still, God would offer salvation to those who would come out from those unholy alliances and be a separate people, surrendered and obedient to the One True Lord (Isaiah 55:10-11).

In the 2 Corinthians passage, Paul reminds the church that it is not to be tethered to pagans in unholy alliances; for, the apostle writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, understood that those associations would tend to lead to the "contamination of the body and spirit." Those associations likely would cause the follower of Christ to compromise convictions and standards, leading to chronic rebellion against the Lord.

On occasion, I will hear this response: "But aren't we to be in the world, to show the light of Christ to it? I believe that I can be a positive influence in his/her life." In most instances, this response is shared in the context of a dating relationship. My reply ALWAYS includes Paul's remarks in I Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character." Whereas we are called to live in the world and are to witness to others the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, no where will one find that we are to enter into unholy relations with those who are not surrendered to Christ as Lord. This was the problem with the Israelites of Isaiah's day. At first, their associations were seemingly "innocent"; however, the more they lived among the Canaanites, the more they yearned for the debased, immoral lifestyles of these pagans. This assimilation began a downward spiral of rebellion by the Israelites, who again would not hear the warnings of God's ordained prophets. And it would not be until God enacted His judgment through the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions that the wickedness of the Israelites would stop.

This is a good word for us. We are called to live in the world, but we are not called to be a part of the world. God has summoned us out from the wicked associations with pagans. He has called us to "purify ourselves from everything that contaminates both body and spirit" (7:1). And out of our reverence for Him, we set ourselves apart for His glory. This is what holiness is all about.

Bearing Up Under a Trial

I Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5,8-11: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain . . . . Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows . . . . We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."


In our Single Adult Bible Study, we have been working through a series by James MacDonald, entitled, "Turning to Trials into Gold." It has been a powerful discussion in which we have learned that trials are an inevitable reality for humanity. This is because we live in a fallen world, which is subject to calamities of all sorts. No one is immune from the painful ordeals that come our way, though we know that God allows such events in our lives in order that we might grow in our dependence on and intimacy with Him. No trial is permitted by the Lord, unless He desires to use the difficulty for the ultimate good . . . to demonstrate the all-sufficiency of a life lived in surrender to God and His purposes.


The above mentioned passage reminds us that we are called to "stand firm, letting nothing move us as we give ourselves fully to the work of God." It is SO easy to falter when calamity befalls us. We want to fold under the pressure, or escape it to better circumstances. God tells us instead that in the midst of trial, we are to stand firm. And God tells us that we are able to remain steadfast in our full work for the Lord by knowing that our efforts are not in vain. One can see that God has in view His eternal redemptive plan, that will reward those who are faithful to Him in this life. Even in those circumstances that seem to have no evidence of ever improving, we know that they ultimately will be transformed for the better in eternity. God will bring full restoration, and it is to this certainty that we are to put our trust. It's the only way to press on in life, especially when our circumstances look rather abysmal.


We too must remember that God has not left us alone in the midst of our difficulty. Rather, he is the "God of all comfort, who comforts us in ALL our troubles." Never can we say that God has overlooked us in a difficult situation. God has promised to provide us His loving comfort, no matter what the circumstance is. This of course suggests that if we are not experiencing His loving peace and presence, we need to look to see if we in fact have asked for it (see James 4:2). But what we are commanded to do with His peace and comfort is not to hoard it for ourselves; instead, we are to share this wonderful gift with others who are struggling through a painful trial. We are to be a conduit of blessing to others, showing the love and peace of Christ that we have received from Him.


The Apostle Paul in the above passage mentions that He struggled with some very difficult persecutions . . . even to the point of wanting to see an end to his life. In hindsight, Paul was later able to see that God was allowing such events so that Paul would become even more dependent upon God, the All-Powerful One. Clearly, if God can "raise the dead" as Paul exclaims, then God can take care of us in our difficulties. One can almost see the hope in Paul's words, knowing that His deliverance ultimately comes through the One True Lord of Hosts! Paul also recognized that God had permitted these painful circumstances to give opportunity for others to offer prayers to the Lord in his behalf. In effect, Paul's difficulty was being used by God to draw others into a greater dependence upon Him, and Paul noted that God's miraculous response in the matter would result in many giving thanks to the Lord for His "gracious favor granted in response to the prayers of many." It was because of the pain of one, that many were drawn closer in intimate fellowship with the Lord.


This is such a good word for us. We must see that our trials are opportunities for God to show us His great love even more, bringing us into a closer intimacy than ever before. He is using the trial to reorient our understanding of this life in view of eternity, and He is educating us to understand that our lives will only find satisfaction and fulfillment the more we understand our dependence upon Him.


God too wants to use our difficulty to impact the lives of others for His glory. As others see the way that we handle our trial and as they are blessed by our passing His comfort that we have received to others, then they will be drawn closer to Him.


Therefore, let us not see our trials only for the misery that they might bring; rather, let us see the opportunity that the Lord is using our difficulties to do some truly incredible works for His kingdom. This is not to belittle the pain that might be associated with the trial. Still, we as followers of Jesus Christ are able to have better perspective . . . that truly God is using our trials for an even greater good. Let us not give up on the hope that in the end, He will make all things new. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Do Not Defy the Redemptive Work of God

Obadiah 4: "Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down."


The book of Obadiah is one of those seldom referenced books of the Bible. It is nestled in the Old Testament among the other minor prophetic books; still, it is an invaluable Word from the Lord to which we must look to find important truths. These truths of God aid us in living lives of obedience to Him as our Sovereign Lord.

Not much is known about the prophet Obadiah other than he was a prophet devoted to God and assured that God would vindicate the righteous and judge the wicked ones who would attempt to thwart His redemptive work.


The book is specifically addressed to the Edomites. This tribe of people were descendants of Esau, and they lived in the region southeast of the Promised Land/Judah on the other side of the Dead Sea. Their land was much more barren as compared to the land God gave to the Israelites, as it was filled with red sandstone soil that did not yield much fruit.


These Edomites were constantly warring against their distant relatives, the Israelites, over land and preeminence in the region. In Numbers 20:21, the account is given of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses moving from Egypt to the Promised Land. The land of Edom was one of the last territories that the Israelites had to pass through to reach their final destination and experience the redemptive work of God in delivering His people from bondage. However, the Edomites would not permit the Israelites to pass through. Instead, the Edomites came out with a powerful army and turned away the Israelites from being obedient to the redemptive calling of God.


Years later, these Edomites would war against King David (2 Samuel 8:13) and against King Solomon (I Kings 11:14-15). They were a continual threat to the Israelites in the region of Palestine, as is evidenced by their invasions during the reigns of Jehosophat, Jehoram, Amaziah, and Ahaz. And later, when the Babylonians invaded the land of Judah, not only did the Edomites refuse to help their distant relatives, but they instead aided the Babylonians destroy the people of Judah. These Edomites cried out for Jerusalem to be torn down (see Psalm 137:7). Some historical sources even claim that the Edomites were directly responsible for destroying the Temple at the time of the Babylonian invasion (see I Esdras 4:45). And even while the people of Judah were fleeing the region, these Edomites took full advantage of the Israelites, seizing their wealth and "cutting down" the fugitives who were trying to escape the slaughter by the Babylonians (Obadiah 13-14). They were quite brazen after the destruction of Jerusalem, drinking in celebration among the ruins on the Holy Hill of Jerusalem. (Obadiah 16).

If anything, the Edomites are analogous to Satan, who attempts to thwart the redemptive work of the Almighty, who offers the ultimate "Promised Land" (i.e. Heaven) to His chosen ones (i.e. those who have responded to His grace). As Edom attempted to inhibit the Israelites from entering the Promised Land, so too is Satan actively at work trying to thwart God's redemptive process for His followers.


Therefore, the strong judgment response against the Edomites in the book of Obadiah is understandable, as they are seen as the epitome of wickedness and rebellion against God and His work of reclamation. God will not hold guiltless the ones that would "shake (their) fists at God, vaunting (themselves) against the Almighty, defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield" [Job 15:25-26]. The vanity of these Edomites' with their prideful hearts and the false presumption that they lived in impenetrable fortresses would lead to their destruction (see Obadiah 3). God promised to "bring them down" from their lofty position, and would judge them for their abject rebellion, and His prophetic words were severe, "Oh, what a disaster awaits you . . . . Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged!" (Obadiah 5-6).


As we see in Obadiah 1, our God has the final word on the matter. He promised that He ultimately would deliver His people and His land (Obadiah 17), thus restoring the divine blessings that had been lost. God would not be challenged in His redemptive work, but he would restore His kingdom to the place it once was (Obadiah 21).

We can see today that God was true to His Word, for the Edomites no longer exist as a nation. And so too will all those who perpetrate rebellion against the Almighty fall to a similar fate (see Revelation 20). Let us not be associated with the Edomites (i.e. purveyors of rebellion against the purposes of the Lord); rather, let us surrender to Him as Lord and experience the blessings that the Lord desires to lavish upon us.

Being a Person of Sexual Purity

I Corinthians 6:13-15 17-20: "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? . . . . But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins agains his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

The physical body is very precious to the Lord. He created our bodies (which He declared good [Genesis 1:31]), and He has determined that our spirits would indwell these bodies in order that we might glorify Him through our physical experiences. We must remember that God is the owner of all things (see Ezek. 18:4); therefore, He has the right to dictate what we would do with the bodies given to us.

One of the problems with the church at Corinth was their inappropriate sexual behavior. In chapter 5, one of their members was having sexual relations with his "father's wife . . . something that does not even occur among pagans." In that instance, Paul summoned the church to meet together in the name and power of the Lord Jesus and hand the man over to Satan for the destruction of his body. Paul then advised that the church was not to have any contact with a person who would consider himself a follower of Christ and yet was sexually immoral; for in reality, such a person who perpetuates such debauchery is no true follower of Christ. Instead, he is subject to losing the kingdom of God, offered through God's grace, because he is defying the Sovereign One in such an egregious way (see I Corinthians 5:6:9).

In the above mentioned passage, we find that everything we do with our bodies ultimately is for the glory of Lord. This is because we have been bought with a price by the precious blood of Christ, who will raise our bodies to glorious, perfected, immortality at the resurrection. For the true follower of Christ, our bodies have become the residence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and therefore, we are a temple unto the Lord. Therefore, such sinful, sexual wickedness is nothing less than a sacrilege against the Lord and the repercussions are severe, since such behavior is a sin directly against the body . . . the dwelling place of the One True God!

Living in such a sex-saturated society that exonerates all kinds of sexual deviations is not an excuse for the believer to follow suit. We must never forget that we are the possession of the Lord, and we are called to maintain sexual purity as an offering of worship to the Almighty. He has created us and called us to obedience in our physical bodies. Let us be faithful to the calling given to us.