Get A Checkup - The One Year Unlocking the Bible Devotional

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.   2 Corinthians 13:5

The Bible warns against the dangers of presuming that we are spiritually healthy. Nothing is more tragic than the blind and empty self-confidence of a person who is sure of salvation while showing no evidence of spiritual life.

Most sensible people go to the doctor for a checkup on a regular basis. They make an appointment because they want to make sure that everything is well. If something is wrong, they want to be in a position to do something about it before the problem gets serious. If people do that with their bodies, why would they not do it with their souls?

Examine yourself in the light of the seven sins of the book of James (see December 15’s devotion), and where you find disease in your soul, place yourself in the hands of Christ. Ask him to restore his beauty in you. Then look for ways to reflect the image of Christ in the brokenness of the world around you.

Discovering hidden sins you had not seen before can be alarming, but it is a normal feature of the Christian journey. You will never get beyond it in this life, so be patient, and don’t become discouraged. God deals with us gently and reveals our sins gradually. A growing sensitivity to our sins is a sign of spiritual growth.

The process of restoring the image of Christ takes a lifetime. The day we’re discharged from the hospital will be the day we enter the presence of Christ in heaven. But while progress is slow, it is also sure: “All of us who have had [the] veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God’s ultimate purpose is that his glory will be reflected in you. That process is already begun in Christ, and when he returns, it will be complete. One of the great joys of heaven will be seeing the glory of God reflected in one another. Are you placing yourself unconditionally in the hands of Jesus Christ to do whatever is necessary, however painful, to restore the image of God in you?

For further reading, see 2 Corinthians 3