THAT TIME AGAIN
Today's reading: 1 John 1-3

The holidays are here! Thanksgiving is within days, Christmas programs are being practiced, baking has begun and Jesus' birthday will be here before you know it. Something else is coming up. Something I await anxiously--my yearly physical.

On one hand I'm looking forward to finding out if this jogging regimen has made any difference what so ever. On the other, well, we all know doctors have a way of bursting our bubbles, surprising us with inopportune diagnosis and suggesting more tests, just to rule a few things out.

Another exam that rolls around this time of year?

"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness." 1 John 1:6 NLT

How would you do on the exam?

I know most of you say you're Christians, I proclaim the same--but how would we do if the clipboard were brought out and the questions started:

Are your thoughts always godly?

Are your intentions consistently focused on someone other than yourself?

Are the corners, closets and basements of your heart opened to God's penetrating light?

Is your lifestyle one God would approve of? Let's be more specific: How are you living Monday through Saturday?

Are you producing fruit of the Spirit in your words, deeds and ambitions?

Tough test, don't you agree? But He tells us in His Word that what we say means very little if how we're living doesn't match up. To be specific, if they don't match up--He calls us liars.

Take the test. Pray about the results. If you come to the conclusion that 'further tests' need to be performed, seek His opinion and carry out the regimen!