"Test Time"

"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." 1 Corinthians 11:31

I am all the time getting "test" in my inbox- most of them are "jokes"- this morning I want to give you a test, and this one is not a joke. It is a spiritual self examination to help you see what's in your heart. The Bible says that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked and we don't know it (Jeremiah 17:9), therefore, we have to take time to examine ourselves to see what's in our hearts.

Here's the test- answer these questions:
What is the first thing you do in the morning when you wake up- praise the Lord for waking you up or complain because you have to get out of bed?
Would you rather go to church at the appointed time or go do some recreation?
Would you rather live in a cave with God or a palace without Him?
Would you rather suffer for the cause of Christ or live in the lap of luxury in Pharaoh's house?
Would you rather be Lazarus or the rich man?
Would you rather read your Bible or read something else?
Do you love your enemies or hate them?
Do you go the second mile when compelled or refuse to go even the first mile?
Do you do unto others the same way they do to you or do you treat them the way you want to be treated?
Are you slow to anger?
Do you give tithes and offerings to God? How do you give them? Cheerfully or grudgingly?
Do you show mercy? How about to those who don't deserve it?
Do you forgive those who trespass again you or do you hold on to bitterness?
Would you rather take revenge or let God deal with them?
Would you rather talk to others more than you want to talk to God?

That will conclude the test for today. I know these are very pointed questions- some of them are easy to answer, some may not be. But in order to know where our hearts are, we have to ask them, and we have to be real and honest with our answers because this is not just a test that determines whether you pass to the next grade or not, whether you have a high IQ, whether you and your spouse are compatible, etc... this is a matter of life and death for you. Answering these questions determine where your heart is with God- if He's first, if He has your heart, if He is your desire, if you love Him.

We take "tests" everyday, not just in a question and answer form like above, but the "tests" (trials, problems, tribulations) that come our way through just everyday life will also let us know where our heart is by the way we respond to them.

Have a great day. Did you pass the test?