TOPIC:“The Sacred Exercise of Self-Examination” (Communion Meditation)
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:I Corinthians 11:23-32; II Corinthians 13:1-5
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink
of that cup” (I Corinthians 11:28)
“Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith” (II Corinthians 13:5)
The word “examine” is used twelve times and the word “examination” is used once in the Bible with a variety of meanings. On three occasions it is used to denote a thorough self-examination and self-evaluation by oneself and by God. David the Psalmist declared: “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; test my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2). Using a different word but with a similar meaning David cries out: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:24, 25). David's life was completely and honestly open to the searching eyes of God.
Even the Apostle Paul writes of God: “Now He who searches the heart knows what the mind of the spirit is” (Romans 8:27). There you have the searching presence of God penetrating deep into our hearts and letting us know what we are really like. But from the two Bible verses that form our text Paul calls for a self-examination with a twofold purpose. In I Corinthians 11:28 the soul-searching introspection is to find out if we are living the way God wants us to live. Paul writes: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.” Such knowledge will lead to silent confession of sin to Christ resulting in unhindered fellowship with Christ. In II Corinthians 13:5 the soul-searching introspection is to find out if we are in Christ and genuinely disciples of Christ. Again Paul writes: “Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith.”
But do you know what I have found after so many years in the ministry. When it comes to self-examination the last thing in the world that most of us want is the real truth about ourselves. It is much easier to be critical of someone else than being totally honest with God and completely honest with ourselves about our individual actions and attitudes. That's the way human nature is and the Bible does not try to cover it up. Deny what we do, denounce what others do. Excuse ourselves, expose others. Now truthfully, isn't that the way it is with many of us?
Let us now turn our attention to the words of the Apostle Paul where on two separate occasions the call comes for each one of us to make an honest self-examination of ourselves.
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