Examine Me, o Lord

I mostly hated tests in school.

I especially loathed multiple-choice tests where there are three answers to choose from followed by two more choices of “A and B” or “A and C.” It immediately put me into a panic trying to figure out whether it was a trick question.

Have you ever felt that way about spiritual things? Like God is giving you an exam, and you better come up with the right answer or you fail? God likes trick questions. No, I am serious, He does. If you read the Gospels, Jesus constantly challenged the Pharisees with questions that stumped them because their brains were so stubborn and saw through the glass narrowly. Christ gave them trick questions because they were tricky spiritual leaders leading people astray. I don’t know about you, but I do want to get the answer right! So am I left with a God who dangles the right answer in front of me like a pendulum, always a little elusive, and anxiety ensues? I say a resounding no! “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33, NKJV).

Exams produce peace only if you are fully prepared to take them and have confidence in your knowledge of the material. Here is the good news! We can have confidence in the material. The material is Jesus Christ.

My confidence is not in my ability to pass the test, but my confidence is in the One who has already passed the test and knows all the right answers.

So when the devil tries to confuse you, just call on Christ, your Test Taker! That was the issue with the Pharisees —they did not trust in the Test Taker; they trusted in themselves. God wants us to understand His loving-kindness as we walk in the truth of Jesus. As we set our mind and heart on Him, He will lead us to truth and obedience.

We will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

Free from condemnation, free from the chains of sin, free from doubt and worry, we will walk in integrity and not slip.

Lee Lee Dart