Holy Self-examination
Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:4-8
I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
Romans 16:19
An examined life honors the call to holiness.
I find two self-examination questions particularly helpful.
First, Who is my cornerstone? The cornerstone was considered a building’s most significant stone because it defined the building’s orientation and design. In order for a Christian to be a “living stone,” honoring God’s design and oriented to his purpose, Jesus must be the “cornerstone.”
Second, Am I becoming a spiritual house? Through his Spirit, Jesus breathes life and vitality. I may desire Christ as my cornerstone, but I must also open my heart to his rehabilitation work. I must choose to have a mind captive to him, an attitude rooted in him, and a lifestyle modeled after him.
After crossing the Jordan River on dry ground, the people of Israel built a stone monument as a lasting testament to the life-changing power of grace (Joshua 4). For a living stone, the underlying self-examination question is this: “Is my whole life a testament to the power of grace?”
Perhaps we should embrace the wisdom of Proverbs 28:26: “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”
Dear Lord, examine my heart, test my thoughts, and expose my motivations. Purify me so that more and more I will grow in your love and be transformed by your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Calvin Hoogendoorn
Rev. Calvin Hoogendoorn serves as senior pastor of First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Previously he served two churches in Illinois. He and his wife, Carla, have three daughters.
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