Looking Within

I’ve always attended Sunday School from a little girl until now. I begin teaching Sunday School to the primary children at the age of fifteen. I can truly say that over the years it has played a vital role in my knowledge of God’s word, and I will be forever grateful for having parents that afforded me the opportunity to have this gift in my life. I see now that it was indeed a gift. But as time has gone on, I’ve discovered one thing, that going to Sunday School and even reading a daily devotion sometimes is not enough. Actually, I’ve learned through my own behavior, it can become ritualistic if allowed. It’s imperative that one must study God’s word with an open heart to look within one’s self to be truly helped. When the writer says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The word that catches my attention every time in this particular passage is “thyself”. This is the approach that must be taken with great care by “ONESELF” to God’s word. One must commit to studying and doing God’s work diligently, that it would be worthy of the approval of God and not shameful. When you do anything with an “individual” approach, you make yourself accountable for the outcome. Joshua 1:8 says “This book of the law shall not depart out of “thy” mouth; but “thou” shalt meditate therein day and night, that “thou” mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then “thou” shalt make “thy” way prosperous, and then “thou” shalt have good success. David said in Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto “my” feet, and a light unto “my” path. Each writer approachs it from an individual standpoint that lends to individual results. Any results one desires to see must first start within. If God’s word does not change us for the better, how do we look or teach with expectation for it to change others?

It takes absolutely no work to see everyone else. That is something that comes fairly easy to most. The hard part comes in taking a deep look within one self. This is where the word of God comes into play if we allow it. No one wants to believe nor hear negative things about themselves particularly from others. This is why we must as “Christians” commit to not only reading but studying God’s word as the guide and the mark that we must strive to reach. The bible clearly tells us not to compare ourselves to one another. Why? Because we are all human and, in the flesh, therefore, we are not the “object” of truth one should reference nor live by. God and his word are the absolute standard of “TRUTH”. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the “truth”, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. One must believe this in order to be saved and to walk in truth. Otherwise your religion is in vain. Therefore, we must measure “our” actions against God’s word of truth and see how we line up, (not how we see ourselves lining up against others). In doing so, we often will see we have great room to grow.

David is by far my most beloved writer in the bible. I can truly understand why David is quoted to be a man after God’s own heart. Not because David himself was perfect, as we can read about a series of sins David committed. Nevertheless, I believe this was written as a testament for him due to David’s honesty and the fact he took great accountability for his actions. Psalms 51 is written by David and conveys not only his plea to God for restoration but, also the acknowledgement of his sins. James also admonishes us as Christians to confess our faults to one another and pray for one another. The onus is now again upon “us” to acknowledge one’s own shortcomings and to pray for each other.

Self-evaluating is not as popular among many. Looking within can be painful initially, especially if one has been living in a place of denial. Often times denial can be merely the absence of the truth. The bible says and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. We use mirrors to see our own natural reflection, we generally do not depend or rely on others to tell us how we look. God’s word is the “truth”; the mirror we should use to see our spiritual reflection. Each time we open the bible, we should be looking to see how we are lining up with God’s word. Is my attitude, actions, and my speech reflecting what is being said in the book the way God has commanded. If not, I need to make the necessary changes to do so. Most of us rarely leave our mirrors without striving for a desired look we would like to see in ourselves. This same effort, if not greater should be taken by us when studying God’s word. Looking and striving to come as close as we possibly can to the reflection of Christ.

As I self-evaluate even in typing this blog. I pray that we not only pray for one another, but that we pray for ourselves to study God’s word with an “inter-reflective” attitude oppose to reflecting upon others. Measuring ourselves against God’s truth. If anyone should be changed by God’s word, it should be its reader. When you “look within” you become the primary recipient of the work. The more Christ reflection abides in you, the more the people around you can be helped through your actions and words. How? Because the more we die to ourselves the more Christ comes alive. The change that takes place in us individually, will eventually bleed over into our homes, communities, work-places, and churches.

Until next time, be good to yourselves…..