Corinthians 13:5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?
We are to examine ourselves, test and evaluate ourselves to see if we are holding unto faith, and showing the fruits of our faith.
That means we look at what we're doing, examining our actions to upholding faith. We are not to test Christ, but ourselves.
But that is what many do, test Christ not themselves. A self righteous attitude is prideful and will keep that one separated from God. God hates pride for that reason, you cannot teach a prideful person anything. And that person will certainly never learn faith, because faith is a dependence on God.
On the other hand you may be one who does not intentionally test God, but if you are just trying God out, that is exactly what you are doing, testing Him.
God isn't a test though, He is a lifestyle and when we live in His lifestyle the test becomes ours. Ours to examine if we are following His way of doing, which will give us the promised results of His will in our lives.
We can't try God out as if He is some kind of diet, or a jacket we may get sick of, but God is a Person, our Source in fact, our Father in Whom if we choose to follow, will manifest not only His promises but Himself to us.
Choosing God is a commitment
When we get married it should be a commitment as well, but many try it, they don’t like it and then they quit.
They thought they liked the new jacket, but now they’ve changed their mind and don't like it anymore.
Have we thought about the problem not being the other person in our marriage, the problem not being the diet, or the jacket? Have we thought about the problem not being God, but that the problem might just be you and me—because we’re not committed?
We could be the reason God isn’t working in our lives. We could be the reason our marriage isn’t working. A marriage is a commitment a commitment to love each other. A commitment to put the other person before ourselves. Once that isn't in place, the marriage will fail because there isn't that love foundation.
Let's examine ourselves concerning God, are we following His lead? If we don’t follow His way of doing then we are expecting things to happen that won't.
If you are making a cake, but not following the recipe, then the cake won't turn out as you expect. If you don't put flour in with the other ingredients you will not have a cake when you are done, you will have a liquid.
The same is true with our relationship with God if we don't follow His directions, we won't get the answer we are expecting. The answer only comes as we follow the instructions that come to get that answer.
God’s manifested answers come from our faith in Him. Therefore if we don't stand the test of faith, the results from faith won't come.
But if we stand the test of faith, if we believe and act like we believe, then we have stood the test of faith and will have fruit of our labor of faith.
Oh oh, is faith a labor? Yes it is. Faith increased comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) which is getting revelation from God, God’s wisdom and yes, getting to know God, all in which take a commitment of time. Also we have a real enemy who tries to steal our faith (Mark 4:15) and so we have to fight to enter in and stay in faith. The kingdom of God is taken by force (Matthew 11:12).
Examine yourself, are you fighting to get faith, are you following the Kingdom of God principles, seeking His way of doing? Are you ever-increasing in your experience with Him? Or are you rejected as a counterfeit, one who is just faking being a Christian? One who says he is because he thinks that is the thing? Or one who has just tried it and settled into the same, tried it, didn't get the results they wanted, so they will just act like they are Christians, but really are self reliant?
Examine yourself quickly, get it right soon, the King is coming!