When I was a student, I was a crammer. I would wait until right before a test to try to learn all the information put before me since the last test. This was a particularly difficult exercise in classes in which only a final exam is given. I would have to try to learn all the material in the course in a couple of days. Not a good idea.
Craming in life is an even worse idea. We know that there is a great test at the end. Paul says that we must all, preacher and people alike, “appear before
the judgment seat of Christ.” Like a class with a test only at the end, our tendency is to “put off” our thoughts of this final test. If we do that we don’t learn the lessons of life God tries to teach us on a daily basis.
If we place ourselves before our God daily, consider what He already knows: our struggles, our failings and our triumphs. And we spend some time listening to Him, He can make corrections before we become horribly off course.
“Keep yourself steadily faced by the judgment seat of Christ; walk now in the light of the holiest you know.” There is an old spiritual discipline known as the Examination of Conscience. The idea is that at the end of each day, one examines the day, the good and the bad, confesses the bad and pledges to build upon the good on the following day. This is a great idea for us. Keeping a close tab, a daily look, at how we are doing will help us walk more in the light. Having grown up in darkness, God can’t hit us with the fullness of His light all at once. Like coming out of a dark theater, we would be blinded by the light. He increases the intensity of His light as the eyes of our lives become adjusted.
Lord, I confess that I have been less than you called me to this day. Thank you for showing me just a bit more of what you expect of me and empower me to be that person tomorrow. Teach me daily to live and love as you would have me.
Be blessed.
Nick
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