Sunday 21 November 2021

Examen

 

Let us spend some quiet time in reflection. Examining our own soul and perhaps discovering who we really are.

Some of us may be devout Christians, others perhaps less so, and maybe some others do not believe at all.

Let us imagine we came face to face with Jesus. What would we say to Him?

Let us not go for the obvious and thank Him for all He has done for us, for loving us and for His sacrifice on the Cross. Let us ask ourselves, what would we truly say to Him?

Would we be able to say anything, or just stay there silently in awe at seeing Him?

Maybe we should look at this another way. What would He say to us?

One day Jesus was in Samaria and He sat by a well. A Samaritan woman approached Him and He asked her for a drink. (John Chapter 4)

In conversation, Jesus told her all about her past life, how "you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband."

What would Jesus tell us about our past? The things we have done, or not done? The stories which we have hidden away in our hearts that no one knows about? Not even our loved ones.

On the surface, our present life may look exemplary. We may be active members of our church, or do charitable works, visit the sick and elderly, or whatever else we do to to benefit others. 

But is there some hidden dark secret which we have not revealed; even to God to ask for forgiveness?

Would we on meeting Jesus fear Him in any way?

Let's not dwell on the obvious, "I don't fear Jesus because He loves me", answer that is often spoken but perhaps not meant.

Imagine you are there with Jesus, the Son of God, are you really not going to have some trepidation in your heart?

And what if He asks, "do you trust me?" What would you answer?

And how would you respond when He says, "why did you worry so much in your life if you say you trust me so?" 

Since He loves us so much, and has done so much for us throughout our lives, how come we do not love Him equally and love one another as He has asked us to?

We say we love God; but how deep is our love? How genuine? Single-minded? In full trust that He loves us too?

26 comments:

  1. ...I believe that the actions of our lives speak louder than words.

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  2. Excellent questions to occupy a Sunday. My prayer is that He will, day by day, convict me of sin to repentance and sanctify me wholly so when that day comes, He can say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

    Of course, He has to give me the grace, so it's all to His glory!

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  3. Yes, my first instinct was to utter, "Thank you." But that's been taken off the table. Little doubt, I'd bow my head in shame -- for He knows all, anyway. I don't deserve his grace, his mercy, but have chosen to spend the rest of my life making up for lost time.

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    1. Thank you for an honest answer, Mevely. Most people, including me, would think of saying thank you first. But then ... Jesus knows what's in our hearts anyway.

      God bless always.

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  4. Other than the obvious of my love and His Love for me, I would like to know some snippets of his childhood and teen years that are not recorded.
    Loved reading your thoughts. A good devotion.
    Sherry & jack still on the other side.

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    1. That is a very good point, Jack. We know very little about Jesus when He grew up. The last we read is when He was 12 teaching in the temple. As Son of God, He must have known at that early age what would happen to Him. Can you imagine the agony, and pain, knowing as a young lad that He would be beaten and nailed on the Cross.

      Could any of us bear it if we knew our future and what would happen to us?

      Thank you for your good thoughts, Jack.

      God bless you and Sherry.

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  5. Dearest Victor,
    My first question would be help in asking more awareness for those poor and voiceless Leprosy sufferers, for finally tackle the STIGMA...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. A very kind and noble prayer, Mariette. There is so much suffering in an uncaring world.

      God bless you.

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  6. There are no words to Thank Him for He has done for us!! We can only do our best, put Him first in our lives and then one day,
    I would hope He would say to me - Well done, my good and faithful servant.

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  7. And what if He asks, "do you trust me?" What would you answer?


    This is deep question for me, because I would say I sometimes find myself worrying about things. Do I trust Him? I might have to say, "Not enough." And He would say, "I am going to change that."

    💙

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    1. Brilliant response. Same here, Sandi. I do find myself worrying at times ... mostly about things that don't happen anyway.

      God bless always.

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  8. We trust God but as humans we also worry. I don't know if we ever can stop worrying. God does things for us on his own time schedule and we know that but in the meantime I still tend to worry. That's something I hope I can remedy.

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    1. You're right. It seems to be part of human nature to worry. Often about the well-being of other people. I take some comfort that Mary and Joseph worried when they lost Jesus and found Him in the temple. And the apostles worried when caught in a storm at sea.

      God bless, Bill.

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  9. I'd offer him a high five for all he has given me.

    I'm not sure I am ashamed of anything in my life, I have screwed up plenty, but out of ignorance not bad intend...most of the time.

    Of course I would be in awe, but I think Jesus would want to put everyone at ease, and not be afraid. I assume you would feel his love.

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    1. Your last two sentences say it all. Yes, Jesus would know how we feel and would want to put us at ease. Often, His first words on meeting people, were "Peace be with you!"

      Thank you for this, JoeH.

      God bless.

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  10. I have a few well hidden secrets, buried deep. If I met Jesus I might ask if I could tell them to him, since I know he would judge fairly and not go blabbing to everyone else.

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    1. You don't need to wait until meeting Jesus face-to-face. Pray to Him now, in the privacy of your home. He already knows about your past, just like He knew the past of the Samaritan woman. Read that story in John Chapter 4. Jesus is waiting to hear from you.

      God bless you, River.

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  11. The only answer I can give you Victor regarding what I would say if I saw Jesus is that I would be lost for words. The thought of seeing my beautiful saviour is hard to imagine.

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    1. Indeed, most of us would be lost for words; but I am certain Jesus would understand and comfort us with His love and caring.

      God bless, Brenda.

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  12. Oh, how I long to see your face, Lord, to see you standing there before me instead of hidden as you are now in the fog of life.
    It's hard to know what I would say to you, or what I would ask you, but there would most definitely be a lot of joy - I hope.

    God bless
    🙏🎄🙏

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    1. Amen, Gram. The Lord is with us all the time. Unseen maybe but still there in our hearts; a prayer away.

      God bless.

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