We Must Judge Ourselves

It seems that as of late, no matter what I read or hear, the issue of pride remains on my mind and in my spirit. The words 'be careful where you stand unless you fall' rings in my ear on almost a daily basis. The fact that we have heard the truth from the mouth of God and that He will not withhold any good thing from those who are His, are the very reasons why godliness with contentment is great gain. Looking to the One who bought us and gave His life for us is the only way that we can stand. And if we do not love this Truth (Jesus) more than the approval of men, it is only a matter of time before we do, indeed, fall. Our Lord Jesus is the only one that can keep us from falling and present us faultless, without spot and wrinkle, to the Father. He is ever making intercession to the Father for us because He loves us and we are His. All we must do is love and cherish the relationship that we have with Him so much that we would desire to be known as nothing more than one who loves God: ²And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.³But if any man love God, the same is known of him (1 Corinthians 8:2-3).

Knowing that the Lord has called us to judge all things by His Spirit, it is true that we must first consume our own words and judge ourselves, that we cannot be judged by another: ³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged (1 Corinthians 11:31). But our judgment must always be according to God's word by the Spirit of God that we would judge all things according to truth and not deceive ourselves (or judge ourselves with an unfair scale).

My prayer is that you, me, we would go before the Lord daily in humility and seek His face that we might find favor in the eyes of God. That our daily sacrifice of praise and our very lives would be acceptable unto the Lord and that He would continue to find pleasure in us daily. God forbid, if the day was to come where he no longer found pleasure in us (due to our own pride, unbelief, sin, fear, lack of faith or unwillingness to do what God has instructed), it would be a very sad, dark day indeed.

The time is short and the day of His salvation is nearer than when we first believed. We must put off the childish things that the Lord has called us out of and quit ourselves as men (and women) in Him. We must cease from our own labors and enter into the work that the Lord has set before us to do while the light of day still shines, while there is yet time, for when the Master shuts the door only those who have been faithful to Him will stand. I pray all who have heard God speak to them, all who have taken the time to receive the Spirit of Truth that they may have fellowship with the Father, all who have been called and chosen for such a time as this (a time as never before) will be able to enter in to the pavilion of God in the day of judgment. We must pray that we are found worthy to escape the wrath that is to come.

Luke 13:24-28
²⁴Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ²⁵When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: ²⁶Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. ²⁷But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. ²⁸There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

God have mercy on your people and give us wisdom and understanding that we may find the strength to stand in the days to come. Let us hold fast to the liberty that you have given us, for even as it is written, those whom the Son has made free are free indeed.

Have Your way in us both now and in the times to come.

God be glorified,
Ryan