We all hurdle difficult exams in life

Text: Psalms 26:1-3

EXAMINATION. The word examine comes from Hebrew “Baw-Khan” meaning to test, to investigate, to prove, to try and to tempt (convince, attract, excite). We need to examine ourselves once in a while in order to know our proficiency (advancement) and knowledge of God and the stage of our faith. This is to be done through questions or inquiry about ourselves. In our life today, problems, uncertainties, difficulties, even doubts help us examine ourselves.

FIRST EXAMININATION. Let God examine ourselves first. “Susiha ug sulayi ako o Ginoo, usisaha ang akong mga tinguha ug mg huna-huna.” (Psalms 26:2). When God does, always have a ready defense, the Hebrews call this as “Gawnan” which means to protect or defend. A defense from God’s examination does not mean resistance but an apology or a plea for vindication. In human treatment, this diligence of having a defense is shown in 1 Corinthians 9:3 “Kon sawayon ako sa mga tawo, tubagon ko sila.” Such response is not to counter back with the same condemnation but to ‘react with wisdom.’ (Eccleasiastes 7:12) and let your accusers and critics hear your defense (Acts 22:1)

SECOND EXAMINATION. Then we examine ourselves. Check, inspect,   scrutinize what’s wrong, observe, think about, analyze, weigh up, sift, and investigate yourself. First Corinthians 11:28 tells us to question or appraise ourselves. To stay in faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), be your own critic and evaluator. Judge yourself and pronounce and opinion about what and where you are, whether you are still devoted and committed to God. 

REVIEW.Receive the reward of blessing—a good grade from God Himself. Have a deepened and more developed faith, intensified more by the examination that gives God more glory. Our lesson then is to learn to walk in integrity or perfection not that we think of ourselves as free from sin but by the purity of our intentions and designs, the uprightness of our conduct and that we could not be charge with any wrong action in this respect, and therefore ought to be acquitted before men and be justified in the sight of God. Amen.