March 12, 2007

Spiritual Checkup

Psalm 139:23-24

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:24

— 

Something strange happened to me as a teenager. I was working on some electronic equipment, and I was so deeply immersed in the project that my mouth was a bit open as I concentrated. As I cut a tiny piece of wire with sharp pliers, it shot off unexpectedly. I felt that little piece of metal hit my lip and then stick somewhere in my throat!

That night I experienced sharp pain, and the next morning I rushed to the hospital, where the doctor first X-rayed my throat and then ordered a full-body scan. Finally she said, "I don't see any metal in your body. That piece never got into your mouth. Your pain might feel real, but it's not."

Sometimes physical pain can be deceiving, and this can also happen spiritually. Our concepts of God and ourselves can seem very real, but they might not be accurate. Just as we visit a doctor to check our physical health, we must always seek an objective picture of our spiritual condition from the Great Physician.

Scripture is God's powerful scanner. God uses it to tell us if something is wrong in our heart--and how to fix it. Scripture also teaches us how to live out our faith in healthy ways that please God.

Through his written Word, the Lord who searches our hearts equips us for the journey of faith.

Lord, as we study the Scriptures, open our eyes to the truth about you and about ourselves. Heal us with your inspired Word and lead us "in the way everlasting." Amen.

About the author — Sergei Sosedkin

Rev. Sergei Sosedkin is the Russian-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries. He is a native of Moscow, Russia. As he oversees the Russian-language ministry, Rev. Sosedkin works from our office in Grand Rapids and in various locations in Russia.

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