June 1-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 12:3-5, For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: “Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?”
The very moment we think of ourselves as better than others, we become proud, and thereby, a sinner and a hypocrite. Instead, Paul says we are to think rightly about ourselves with the faith we have been given. Individually, we are not the “all in all” answer to the world. God has placed us in His family with others to work well together. We do not have the same function but each of us have different gifts so that we can be a complete unit humbly serving together for the benefit of others and the glory of God. Paul goes one step further telling we will protect ourselves from becoming too self-absorbed when we acknowledge that we belong to each other and, in doing so, willingly hold ourselves accountable to the larger community.
Relate it to your life.
When I make myself accountable to the community of faith, I will keep my pride in check.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to fully avail myself to the community You have given to keep me grounded. Amen.
June 2-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 5:3-4, Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: “Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?”
When the church was blossoming in its early days, one of the marks of their dynamic spiritual health was generosity. Several believers were giving away their stuff in order to care for the many needs among them. Ananias and Sapphira joined in on the fun, but they, evidently, did so for more than the altruistic motives of selfless service. They sold land. They gave money, but they kept some of the proceeds for themselves. They lied about it. They said they gave all the proceeds. They rightly could have kept some of the proceeds for their own needs. They did not have to exaggerate their claims. God revealed how much he detests deceit by taking out both Ananias and Sapphira. He was sending a message to the early church that the Body of Christ was to be pure and holy. What they did not understand was that they were not only lying to the apostles but to God Himself. They allowed Satan to turn their good intentions into an act of deception that cost them their lives. This story reinforces how serious God is about truthfulness among His people.
Relate it to your life.
As a follower of Jesus, I must choose honesty and refuse to lie or exaggerate.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me a pure heart that speaks and acts without deceit but with absolute truth. Amen.
June 3-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:13, A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 20:19, A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
Trustworthiness is foundational to strong relationships. If I cannot be trusted to hold confidential information, then what value do I hold as your confidant? Gossip is portrayed as sin throughout the Bible since it destroys people, reputations, and relationships. Look at the list of sins in which it is included: 2 Corinthians 12:20, “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” Instead of this, the hallmark of a true friend is one in whom you can share the secrets of your heart and have the absolute assurance it will not go any further. Obviously, if a person’s wellbeing or someone’s wellbeing is at stake, then there is legal obligation to tell others. The second proverb warns us not to associate with those who are always ready to talk. If they are willing to talk to you about others, they will be willing to talk to others about you so keep your distance!
Relate it to your life.
I can be trusted as far as I can keep confidence with others.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to keep a tight rein on my mouth so I speak only what is helpful and good. Amen.
June 4-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 6:16-17, Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
In a time where slavery was prominent, Paul used such imagery to communicate what we were before Christ came and what we are when Christ has come into our lives. Christ set us free from slavery to sin and death so that we could become obedient to righteousness. The kinds of things in which Wesley lists that we can become enslaved to are not sinful in themselves. However, any time we allow anything to master us, we have become enslaved to it. Wesley was opposed to extravagant clothing. One of our church’s founding families wrote about an encounter with Wesley in England as a child when Wesley asked her on Easter Sunday if that was a bonnet she was wearing. He was not for such attire! We may not agree with such radical thoughts of dress, but the point is that we cannot allow our hearts to become captured by anything in this world except for Christ Himself. We cannot let the pursuit of clothes, people, work, or good or bad habits keep us from fully submitting ourselves to Christ. Jesus said we can only have one master at a time. Paul wrote in Romans 6:22, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
Relate it to your life.
I need to take inventory of my life to discover if I have become enslaved to anything but Christ.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, please remove every earthly master in my life so that I am fully submitted to You. Amen.
June 5-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 3:17, If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Each of these are defined by self. Wesley seems to be asking us to evaluate how self-absorbed we are. How much time do we spend thinking only of our own reputation, our own needs, or making ourselves look good before others. The focus of the Christian is to be on Christ who calls us to look to the needs of others. As John writes, if we have the means to help others but fail to do so, then how can we say God’s love, that Christ Himself is dwelling within us. The very focus of Christ was never upon Himself but upon how He might heal, help, and save others. He said He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life away as a ransom for others. True followers of Christ will be the most selfless persons on the planet. Our very purpose is to find all the ways we can be a blessing to others with words, actions, and gifts. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Relate it to your life.
Being self-absorbed is the greatest obstacle in following Jesus who asks us to lay down our lives for others.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me Your vision which takes my eyes off myself and places them on You and those You love. Amen.
June 6-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Psalm 1:1-3, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Did the Bible live in me today? Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
For us to be able to answer the first question, we have to answer the second question honestly. If the message of Scripture is going to be infused into my daily life, then I will be spending time in the Scriptures knowing what they say, and, even, more importantly, getting to know the Holy Loving God they speak about. The question does not ask if we are merely reading Scripture, but if we are giving it time to speak to us. When we reflect on its message, it does its work to convict, correct, and train us in righteousness. This Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of those who take time to let God’s word speak into their lives. Such people will be fruitful and prosperous in all that they do. Because they are living by God’s holy standards, they will excel in life. They will produce the kind of character that stands out from the corrupted way and will be seen as those who can be trusted. They will be valued and sought out above others for in them will be found that which no one else has unless they have God within them.
Relate it to your life.
When I take time to let Scripture speak into my life, it adds tremendous value to everything I do.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me not merely go through the motions but allow Your Word speak into my life. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 12:3-5, For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: “Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?”
The very moment we think of ourselves as better than others, we become proud, and thereby, a sinner and a hypocrite. Instead, Paul says we are to think rightly about ourselves with the faith we have been given. Individually, we are not the “all in all” answer to the world. God has placed us in His family with others to work well together. We do not have the same function but each of us have different gifts so that we can be a complete unit humbly serving together for the benefit of others and the glory of God. Paul goes one step further telling we will protect ourselves from becoming too self-absorbed when we acknowledge that we belong to each other and, in doing so, willingly hold ourselves accountable to the larger community.
Relate it to your life.
When I make myself accountable to the community of faith, I will keep my pride in check.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to fully avail myself to the community You have given to keep me grounded. Amen.
June 2-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 5:3-4, Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: “Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?”
When the church was blossoming in its early days, one of the marks of their dynamic spiritual health was generosity. Several believers were giving away their stuff in order to care for the many needs among them. Ananias and Sapphira joined in on the fun, but they, evidently, did so for more than the altruistic motives of selfless service. They sold land. They gave money, but they kept some of the proceeds for themselves. They lied about it. They said they gave all the proceeds. They rightly could have kept some of the proceeds for their own needs. They did not have to exaggerate their claims. God revealed how much he detests deceit by taking out both Ananias and Sapphira. He was sending a message to the early church that the Body of Christ was to be pure and holy. What they did not understand was that they were not only lying to the apostles but to God Himself. They allowed Satan to turn their good intentions into an act of deception that cost them their lives. This story reinforces how serious God is about truthfulness among His people.
Relate it to your life.
As a follower of Jesus, I must choose honesty and refuse to lie or exaggerate.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me a pure heart that speaks and acts without deceit but with absolute truth. Amen.
June 3-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:13, A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 20:19, A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
Trustworthiness is foundational to strong relationships. If I cannot be trusted to hold confidential information, then what value do I hold as your confidant? Gossip is portrayed as sin throughout the Bible since it destroys people, reputations, and relationships. Look at the list of sins in which it is included: 2 Corinthians 12:20, “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” Instead of this, the hallmark of a true friend is one in whom you can share the secrets of your heart and have the absolute assurance it will not go any further. Obviously, if a person’s wellbeing or someone’s wellbeing is at stake, then there is legal obligation to tell others. The second proverb warns us not to associate with those who are always ready to talk. If they are willing to talk to you about others, they will be willing to talk to others about you so keep your distance!
Relate it to your life.
I can be trusted as far as I can keep confidence with others.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to keep a tight rein on my mouth so I speak only what is helpful and good. Amen.
June 4-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Romans 6:16-17, Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
In a time where slavery was prominent, Paul used such imagery to communicate what we were before Christ came and what we are when Christ has come into our lives. Christ set us free from slavery to sin and death so that we could become obedient to righteousness. The kinds of things in which Wesley lists that we can become enslaved to are not sinful in themselves. However, any time we allow anything to master us, we have become enslaved to it. Wesley was opposed to extravagant clothing. One of our church’s founding families wrote about an encounter with Wesley in England as a child when Wesley asked her on Easter Sunday if that was a bonnet she was wearing. He was not for such attire! We may not agree with such radical thoughts of dress, but the point is that we cannot allow our hearts to become captured by anything in this world except for Christ Himself. We cannot let the pursuit of clothes, people, work, or good or bad habits keep us from fully submitting ourselves to Christ. Jesus said we can only have one master at a time. Paul wrote in Romans 6:22, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
Relate it to your life.
I need to take inventory of my life to discover if I have become enslaved to anything but Christ.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, please remove every earthly master in my life so that I am fully submitted to You. Amen.
June 5-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
1 John 3:17, If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Each of these are defined by self. Wesley seems to be asking us to evaluate how self-absorbed we are. How much time do we spend thinking only of our own reputation, our own needs, or making ourselves look good before others. The focus of the Christian is to be on Christ who calls us to look to the needs of others. As John writes, if we have the means to help others but fail to do so, then how can we say God’s love, that Christ Himself is dwelling within us. The very focus of Christ was never upon Himself but upon how He might heal, help, and save others. He said He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life away as a ransom for others. True followers of Christ will be the most selfless persons on the planet. Our very purpose is to find all the ways we can be a blessing to others with words, actions, and gifts. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Relate it to your life.
Being self-absorbed is the greatest obstacle in following Jesus who asks us to lay down our lives for others.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me Your vision which takes my eyes off myself and places them on You and those You love. Amen.
June 6-Questions for Gracious Self-Examination by John Wesley
Write out the Scripture.
Psalm 1:1-3, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Observe what it is saying.
Wesley’s Question: Did the Bible live in me today? Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
For us to be able to answer the first question, we have to answer the second question honestly. If the message of Scripture is going to be infused into my daily life, then I will be spending time in the Scriptures knowing what they say, and, even, more importantly, getting to know the Holy Loving God they speak about. The question does not ask if we are merely reading Scripture, but if we are giving it time to speak to us. When we reflect on its message, it does its work to convict, correct, and train us in righteousness. This Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of those who take time to let God’s word speak into their lives. Such people will be fruitful and prosperous in all that they do. Because they are living by God’s holy standards, they will excel in life. They will produce the kind of character that stands out from the corrupted way and will be seen as those who can be trusted. They will be valued and sought out above others for in them will be found that which no one else has unless they have God within them.
Relate it to your life.
When I take time to let Scripture speak into my life, it adds tremendous value to everything I do.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me not merely go through the motions but allow Your Word speak into my life. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals