Nobody likes exams. Nobody (unless you're weird) likes tests. But Paul exhortation to the Corinthians reads: "Examine yourselves to se whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"
So how exactly do we do that? How do we examine to see if we are in the faith? Take heart! You're currently taking part in one of the best tests.
As you read the Bible during the New Testament Challenge, do you have a deep love for the person of Christ? Do you feel a deep affection growing for him, as you might feel for a friend you are spending more time with?
Do you desire to obey Jesus to the best of you ability? As Jesus said this week "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?"
Are you reading certain moral ideals for the Christian life that bother you because you feel so far from them? Don't despair. If your life is marked by a desire and continued effort to be more like Jesus because you love him and want to do what he says, this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. But if you feel a desire to examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith, I can think of no better magnifier to hold up to you life than the Word of God.
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