The value of evaluation in our lives and ministries
Author
Faustino de Jesús Zamora Vargas
Summary: As Christians, it is important to stop and examine ourselves to make necessary adjustments in our spiritual walk with Christ. The world and its temptations try to distract us, so we need to ask God for help in evaluating ourselves and refocusing on His work. If we don't examine ourselves, God will. We should follow the example of the people of Israel in Nehemiah's time and confess our faults, repent, and trust in God's mercies and faithfulness. God is forgiving and gracious, and examining ourselves is a way to grow healthily in Christ and recognize our dependence on Him.
In our walk with Christ many times we will have to stop to examine ourselves and make adjustments if necessary. That is a symbol of spiritual maturity. The world in which we live and its prince, with no laurels to display, re-mold themselves to attract us to its subtleties and make us dance to its rhythm. It is good to stop along the way and ask God to con the help of his Spirit, help us to make a spiritual evaluation to correct the course and refocus on the work that Christ has entrusted us to do. We better do it because if you don't examine yourself, God will. The psalmist sang to the Lord: "You search my heart, you search me at night ..." (Ps 17.3)
Solomon, referring to self-analysis, concluded: "The wicked is inflexible in his decisions; the just examine his own conduct", (Pr 21.29 NIV), order his ways. And in the book of Lamentations "Let us examine our ways and search them, And return to the Lord. ”(Lam 3.40) It is most likely that when we scrutinize our conduct and our ways we realize that many things are wrong, that we have been light in remembering God's mercies, his goodness and love, that we have been disobedient and not We have acted according to His Word. I am sure that when we are aware of it, we experience sadness. What should we do? The same thing that the people of Israel did in Nehemiah's time: confess our faults, repent from the heart and trust in the mercies and God's faithfulness.
Ezra had read the Law to the entire congregation (Neh 8) and the Word had penetrated like a two-edged sword deep into the hearts of God's people. The congregation was confronted with the truths of the Law and fasted. In an unprecedented act of adoration, the humiliated people acknowledged their rebellions, confessed their faults and repented, crying out “aloud” for the almighty to free them from their evils and to continue helping and safeguarding them. It was a prayer of recognition of the faithfulness and goodness of God. The humbled people showed a burning - and suffering - desire to turn to their God. (Nehemiah 9).
Have you examined yourself in the light of God's Word? Do you think that the work you do for the Lord in the ministry that he has given you is not tinged with faults and sins that you need to confess? Have you been confronted with the truths of God's Word lately and felt the need to cry out to turn to him?
If we are sure of one thing, it is that God is faithful and forgiving, which does not justify us walking libertines without stopping to examine ourselves in the light of the Gospel of Christ and admit our faults humbled before the throne of his grace. It is one of the most honorable ways to grow healthily in Christ and recognize that we always depend on him to experience a life of victory. He is a gracious and compassionate God (Neh 9.31).
God bless you!
Suggested Reading: Nehemiah 9