Judge Yourself or Justify Yourself?

But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NASB)

As a Christian did you ever stop to ponder how much of life’s troubles we bring on ourselves because we neglect to apply the above passage to our lives?  I have a natural presence of mind to justify my actions instead of judging them. The Bible says if I judge myself, I am forgiven but not chastened.  But if I neglect to judge myself, then the Lord must step in to do the judging for me.  It means that my Lord must add His “chastening” and apply His correction to my life.  I must suffer the consequences of my folly until I learn what God is trying to teach me.  How much better it would be for me to examine my own thoughts and intentions and make my own godly corrections.
  

You must understand that the Lord is not interested in making me comfortable.  He is interested in making me holy.  When I speak of the Lord’s judgments in my spiritual life, I am not speaking of the judgment of God’s wrath upon my sins.  As a child of God my sins are forgiven by His grace. I will never fall under the wrath of God for my sins, because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for my sins when I received Jesus Christ as my Savior.

 “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.^”

1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

John 1:12 (NKJV)

 But as a Christian the judgments of God’s Spirit does correct the quality of my spiritual life.  The natural man knows nothing about judging himself, only justifying himself.  I can always correct my spiritual thinking by asking this simple question: "Am I trying to justify my actions by the world's standards or am I judging myself by God’s standards?"  If I find the justifier is in control, I know that I am letting my carnal nature direct my thoughts and actions. At this point the Lord will be forced to judge my intentions and desires and apply pressure to bring me back into a victorious Christ-like mind set.  However, if I judge myself according to the Word of God, then God sends healing and forgiveness.  It is at this point that the Holy Spirit begins to administer His peace and joy to my soul and I reap the benefit of His assurance and blessing in my life.

My conclusion:

I will make every effort to examine myself whenever I begin to justify my own actions.

 I will look inwardly, searching to judge myself by the higher standards of my faith.

Cross references:

1. 1 Corinthians 11:32 : 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 94:12; Heb 12:7-10; Rev 3:19
2. 1 Corinthians 11:32 : 1 Cor 1:20

“The Because It Is True” Challenge

A Bible Memory Verse Journal

The simplest and most effective way for a Christian to live a victorious Christian life is to allow the living word of God to transform his heart and mind by memorizing scripture.

Accept this great spiritual adventure and allow it to change your life. Take the challenge and let the Lord personally show you the active power of his living word. 

The “Because it is True, Hebrews 4:12, Challenge”

“The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joint from marrow, it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

Your Hebrews 4:12 Challenge Assignment:

1. Pick any scripture from your Bible that speaks to your heart.  Tip: A topical scripture guide is a helpful tool.
2. Commit that scripture to memory.
3. Journal how the Lord uses that scripture in your heart.
4. Journal how the Lord uses that scripture to minister through you to others.
5. Repeat assignment with another verse.

Welcome to the great life changing spiritual adventure of “Because It Is True” scripture memory journal.  Feel free to post your comments below, as you accept "The Because It Is True Challenge".

Helpful links: 
Reference Bible Verses on-line in many languages. Find verses by topical, passage, or key word reference.
Topical Memory System from the Navigators online
From Fellowshipseekers Readers Library: 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart By Robert J. Morgan

Here is a perfect journal to record your, “Because it is True, Hebrews 4:12, Challenge” notes:

My Personal Journal: KeyNotes By Ellen Caughey / Barbour Publishing Sermon notes, prayer requests, personal journaling... Christians have always been note takers. Now Barbour offers specialized notebooks to help believers organize that information. Patterned after the popular My Bible Study Notebook and Bible Study Organizer and Notebook, the brand-new KeyNotes journals provide more than one hundred lined pages for personal journaling, prayer requests, sermon notes, and small group information. Each spread features appropriate prompts and encouraging Scriptures, and the lay-flat spiral binding makes the KeyNotes journals easy to use. The cover is attractive and durable, making these journals appropriate for anyone, anywhere.

Just Do as I Say

Do you have a favorite Bible Verse?

Take a moment to read a few of my favorite verses.

If we as Christians would simply read, absorb and do as these verses instruct, we would have far less misery and anxiety in our daily lives: 

 

 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Philippians 4 :4 -5 (NLT)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

 Philippians 4 :6-7

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4: 7- 8

If we were to fix our thoughts on what was true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable, would that mean we would have to turn off the TV?
by JP Miner

Praying for lost loved ones?

Praying for lost loved ones? 

I continually pray for “Saving Faith” for unbelieving family and friends.  These individuals do not know my Lord, and they appear to not care if they ever meet Him.  So, as I bring these people to the throne of grace in my prayers, I often detect an element of doubt playing in the back of my mind that says:

“They are dug in; they will never change their mind. How will they ever consider the life changing meaning of sin, grace, and forgiveness? This individual is not capable of ever changing their mind.”  However, the next time I sense this sort of thinking seeping into my thought pattern, I will just smile and remember this story of the stubborn captain.

The following experience as told by Frank Koch in Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute.

“Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days.  I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”

“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.

Lookout replied, “Steady, captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with the ship.

The captain then called out to the signalman: We are on a collision course, advice you change course 20 degrees.”

Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”

The captain said, “Send, I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees."

“I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply.

 “You had better change course 20 degrees.”

By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I’m a BATTLESHIP. Change course 20 degrees.”

Back came the flashing light, “I’m a LIGHTHOUSE.”

We changed course.

So never doubt how easily God can reveal the reality of His salvation to the heart and mind of a lost soul.

Psalms 49:12-13 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.  This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.