2 Corinthians 13

Be Still: Jesus our Redeemer, please transform my heart and my mind through your Word today.

Read: 2 Corinthians 13

'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? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.' (vv5-9)

Encounter: Despite leaving school nearly 10 years ago, I still have moments where I feel deep relief that I no longer have exams to take and revise for. Alongside endless notes and flash cards, one of my revision strategies was testing myself at the end of a topic as a 'check-up.  This would go one of two ways - either I’d mark it, do well, and be relieved I was on track, or I’d fail miserably and realise the revision was not going as well as I thought. 

Today we have made it to the end of 2 Corinthians (well done us!) and Paul encourages the people of Corinth to have a spiritual check-up. He’s given them a lot of content and he’s now getting them to test themselves to check where they’re at.

His instructions are 'Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you?'  essentially saying, 'Take a moment and look inward. Is Jesus really living in you?”.

Testing ourselves shows us what we’re good at, and what we need to revise more. Taking a moment to examine ourselves spiritually means we can see what’s going well and what we need to work on. But unlike testing ourselves ahead of exams, we don’t need to panic or feel shame if we find gaps or failings. As Paul has reminded us again and again in this letter, Jesus’ grace is sufficient, and his power is made perfect in our weakness. 

Apply: Take some time over the next few days to do a spiritual check-up. Ask yourself if there are ways you would live differently if you genuinely knew and believed that Jesus lives in you? What would look different? More peaceful? More bold? More gentle? More joyful? More freedom?

Devote: Living Jesus, thank you that you live in me - remind me today of that truth! By your Spirit, help me to examine and test myself. Please highlight areas I need to change or grow in. Help me to be obedient to what you ask of me.