July - 27
TAKING STOCK
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God . . . . 1 John 3:21
When it comes to taking stock, I know myself well enough to say that my heart can let me get away with more than it should. I also know that’s true for others.
In our text today from 1 John, the Bible isn’t asking us to check how we feel about ourselves. The context makes clear that God wants us to look at who we are in the light of love for God and others (1 John 3:10-4:21). This month we have been looking at what gets in the way of connecting with God and cultivating our relationships with God and others.
God’s answer? Sin. Only if my heart is alert to the nuances of sin can my heart accurately condemn me or commend me.
I’ll be honest: I would rather not have my heart condemn me. There’s enough tough stuff in life; I don’t need more condemnation.
But I’m also a realist. I don’t want just a feeling of closeness to God, especially if it isn’t real. I want to be close to God. That’s why I need to examine myself in light of God’s Word.
This morning I began the day praying through the Ten Commandments, specifically asking God to show me where I need to change. His answers may be pain¬ful—but they will also be profitable for my pursuit of the “way everlasting.”
PRAYER
“Search me, O God, and know my heart . . . . See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Help me also see that you’re with me in this. In Jesus, Amen.
若要评估一下我现今的状况，我有自知之明，知道我的心一定会对自己过于宽容，应怪责的也不怪责，而我知道其他人也是这样的。
在约翰一书这段经文中，圣经不是叫我们检查我们认为自己是怎样的，经文的上下文清楚指出，神要我们从爱神和爱人的角度来看我们是谁（约翰一书3:10-4:2）。在这个月，我们一直在看，有哪些事物会妨碍我们与神交往、又妨碍我们与神和人建立关系。
神的答案是甚么呢？是罪。若要正确地责备或称许自己，我的心必须对罪敏感。
老实说，我真的不想让我的心责备我，我生命中已有足够的难处要应付了，我实在不需要更多的责备。
不过，我也是一个现实主义者，我不想只是在感觉上亲近神，尤其是如果这种感觉不是真的；我希望真的在亲近神，所以我需要以神的话来自我鉴察。
今天早上，我以十诫作祷告来开始这一天，我特别求神让我看见，我有哪些地方需要改进，祂的答案可能令我难受—— 但却能帮助我追求那「永生的道路」。
祷告
「神啊，求祢鉴察我，知道我的心思，…看在我里面有甚么恶行没有，引导我走永生的道路。」求帮助我看到，同时也与我同在。奉耶稣名求，阿们。