5 Inquiries to Pose That Will Test Your Faith
Throughout our lifetime, we will experience moments of strong belief and periods of doubt in our faith. Despite facing many challenges, there will also be moments of triumph and joy. Climbing these peaks allows us to witness the blessings of God. Even in times of uncertainty, God remains steadfast in His love and support for us. Just like Paul states, God is continuously on our side and never against us (see Romans 8:31).
While God has remained loyal to us, we must evaluate our faithfulness to Him. Are we authentically embodying the principles of Christianity and guiding others toward Him? Or are we living selfishly without considering God's will? Perhaps we attend church on Sundays but neglect to live for Him during the rest of the week. These moments call for self-reflection and a commitment to living genuinely for Jesus, taking our relationship with Him more earnestly.
1. How am I serving Jesus?
While on my way to a medical appointment, I noticed a thought-provoking query displayed on a church sign: "You have received so much from Jesus. What have you given in return?" This question struck me in a unique manner, as it wasn't a typical "Jesus loves you" message. Instead, it urged me to reflect on my actions and my commitment to Jesus Christ. What am I doing for Jesus? Am I doing anything at all?
Upon arriving for my appointment, I reflected on the recent actions I had taken for Jesus over the past week. Despite my efforts, I knew that I could have done more. Disappointed, I contemplated what I could currently do for Him as I awaited His summons. This realization has prompted me to consider meaningful ways to serve Jesus, recognizing that while the Lord has given us much, our contributions to Him have been minimal.
Because of our deep affection for Him, we should strive to impact the world in His name. While our salvation is not reliant on it, carrying out acts of kindness for the Lord is a sincere expression of our love for Him. James, the Lord's half-brother, reminds us that faith alone is not enough, as he states, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18). Our faith and actions must harmonize to show our allegiance to Jesus.
These acts of kindness will not secure our salvation, since we are already redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus. However, they can serve as a way for others to witness Jesus in us and potentially lead them to embrace Him as their Savior. It is crucial not to perform good deeds solely for the sake of expecting rewards from God. Our motivation should stem from a sincere desire to serve Jesus because we love Him.
2. Am I living my life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus?
Each one of us is faced with a choice: are we living for our own sake or for Jesus? These are the only two options available, and it is vital for us to be truthful with ourselves. Many of us already have an intuition about where our priorities lie, and it is important for us to reflect on the changes we may need to implement in our lives.
Paul writes to the believers at Galatia, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). These are the precise words we should reflect in our lives. Christ resides within us, and the life we lead is dedicated to Him. Embracing this affirmation and lifestyle will authentically manifest our faith.
Living solely for ourselves will ultimately lead to ruin. As humans, we are inherently sinful and continually commit transgressions (see Psalm 51:5 and Romans 3:23); thus, living a self-centered life cannot be considered virtuous in the eyes of God. Society advocates for pursuing personal desires and striving for the "ideal life," yet true fulfillment lies in dedicating ourselves to serving, obeying, and loving the Lord wholeheartedly.
3. Am I being true to my advice?
A lot of us have witnessed dishonest pastors who don't follow their teachings, but do we ourselves practice what we preach? It's easy to judge others, but what if we compared our actions to the Bible? Jesus provokes us with this question: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5).
It is essential to evaluate our behavior before criticizing issues in others' lives. Just like the Lord, whose words and actions are consistently in harmony, we should reflect on whether our words and actions align. If they do not, it is imperative that we begin making the required adjustments in our lives. Essentially, we must lead by example in our words and actions.
If we urge others to follow Jesus, we must also model his teachings. Likewise, if we advocate for loyalty to the Lord, we should exemplify faithfulness ourselves. Encouraging others to rely on Jesus requires us to have that same trust. It is important to lead by example and demonstrate our commitment to our Christian beliefs through our actions, rather than merely judging others.
4. Am I Really Following Jesus' Commands?
Some individuals believe they are following Jesus, but in reality, they may not be. Merely attending church does not constitute complete obedience to Jesus. True obedience to Jesus means following His teachings and instructions, as stated in Micah 6:8. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
If we fail to follow Jesus, then we are not authentically practicing our faith. Our connection with Him will deteriorate unless we adhere to His teachings. It is contradictory to claim love for Him if we do not comply with His instructions. It is essential to evaluate our actions to determine if we are truly obeying Him. If not, we can adjust our mindset and behavior to align better with our faith.
Instead of just professing to follow Him, we will actively follow His commandments. We will demonstrate our love for God wholeheartedly and show love to our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). In our actions, we will uphold justice, equality, fairness, and truth. Our focus will be on living according to Jesus' teachings and cultivating a faith that mirrors His teachings.
5. Do people see Jesus when they look at me?
I once heard a college peer pose a thought-provoking question, "Do others see Jesus when they look at you?" This question was perceived as challenging by the person asking, but all the other students studying the Bible at the college responded with a confident "yes" and continued on their way. Unfortunately, none of these students truly embodied the qualities of Jesus. Despite being raised in the church, their behaviors did not reflect Jesus' teachings. It is concerning that these individuals were unaware of their disconnect from Jesus.
Many people mistakenly believe that by dressing a certain way and putting on a fake smile, they are projecting a representation of Jesus to the world. However, reflecting Jesus to the world entails emulating His actions by showing love, kindness, and fairness toward others. It involves being selfless, compassionate, respectful, and humble, rather than seeking personal gain or displaying negative traits.
Examine your life to assess if your actions are consistent with Jesus' teachings or if they are instead aligned with sinful behavior. Reflecting on your actions is crucial, as they are a clear indicator of whether Jesus is truly guiding your life or not, as actions speak louder than words.
When individuals observe us and genuinely perceive Jesus in us, it will have a transformative impact on their lives. They will desire to cultivate a connection with Him and deepen their knowledge of Him. Conversely, if our behavior paints us as hypocritical, outsiders will also view Jesus in a negative light. Essentially, they may perceive Jesus as unkind, harmful, and rude if we behave hypocritically. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we nurture our faith so that Jesus is reflected through us for others to witness.
While God has remained loyal to us, we must evaluate our faithfulness to Him. Are we authentically embodying the principles of Christianity and guiding others toward Him? Or are we living selfishly without considering God's will? Perhaps we attend church on Sundays but neglect to live for Him during the rest of the week. These moments call for self-reflection and a commitment to living genuinely for Jesus, taking our relationship with Him more earnestly.
1. How am I serving Jesus?
While on my way to a medical appointment, I noticed a thought-provoking query displayed on a church sign: "You have received so much from Jesus. What have you given in return?" This question struck me in a unique manner, as it wasn't a typical "Jesus loves you" message. Instead, it urged me to reflect on my actions and my commitment to Jesus Christ. What am I doing for Jesus? Am I doing anything at all?
Upon arriving for my appointment, I reflected on the recent actions I had taken for Jesus over the past week. Despite my efforts, I knew that I could have done more. Disappointed, I contemplated what I could currently do for Him as I awaited His summons. This realization has prompted me to consider meaningful ways to serve Jesus, recognizing that while the Lord has given us much, our contributions to Him have been minimal.
Because of our deep affection for Him, we should strive to impact the world in His name. While our salvation is not reliant on it, carrying out acts of kindness for the Lord is a sincere expression of our love for Him. James, the Lord's half-brother, reminds us that faith alone is not enough, as he states, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18). Our faith and actions must harmonize to show our allegiance to Jesus.
These acts of kindness will not secure our salvation, since we are already redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus. However, they can serve as a way for others to witness Jesus in us and potentially lead them to embrace Him as their Savior. It is crucial not to perform good deeds solely for the sake of expecting rewards from God. Our motivation should stem from a sincere desire to serve Jesus because we love Him.
2. Am I living my life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus?
Each one of us is faced with a choice: are we living for our own sake or for Jesus? These are the only two options available, and it is vital for us to be truthful with ourselves. Many of us already have an intuition about where our priorities lie, and it is important for us to reflect on the changes we may need to implement in our lives.
Paul writes to the believers at Galatia, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). These are the precise words we should reflect in our lives. Christ resides within us, and the life we lead is dedicated to Him. Embracing this affirmation and lifestyle will authentically manifest our faith.
Living solely for ourselves will ultimately lead to ruin. As humans, we are inherently sinful and continually commit transgressions (see Psalm 51:5 and Romans 3:23); thus, living a self-centered life cannot be considered virtuous in the eyes of God. Society advocates for pursuing personal desires and striving for the "ideal life," yet true fulfillment lies in dedicating ourselves to serving, obeying, and loving the Lord wholeheartedly.
3. Am I being true to my advice?
A lot of us have witnessed dishonest pastors who don't follow their teachings, but do we ourselves practice what we preach? It's easy to judge others, but what if we compared our actions to the Bible? Jesus provokes us with this question: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5).
It is essential to evaluate our behavior before criticizing issues in others' lives. Just like the Lord, whose words and actions are consistently in harmony, we should reflect on whether our words and actions align. If they do not, it is imperative that we begin making the required adjustments in our lives. Essentially, we must lead by example in our words and actions.
If we urge others to follow Jesus, we must also model his teachings. Likewise, if we advocate for loyalty to the Lord, we should exemplify faithfulness ourselves. Encouraging others to rely on Jesus requires us to have that same trust. It is important to lead by example and demonstrate our commitment to our Christian beliefs through our actions, rather than merely judging others.
4. Am I Really Following Jesus' Commands?
Some individuals believe they are following Jesus, but in reality, they may not be. Merely attending church does not constitute complete obedience to Jesus. True obedience to Jesus means following His teachings and instructions, as stated in Micah 6:8. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
If we fail to follow Jesus, then we are not authentically practicing our faith. Our connection with Him will deteriorate unless we adhere to His teachings. It is contradictory to claim love for Him if we do not comply with His instructions. It is essential to evaluate our actions to determine if we are truly obeying Him. If not, we can adjust our mindset and behavior to align better with our faith.
Instead of just professing to follow Him, we will actively follow His commandments. We will demonstrate our love for God wholeheartedly and show love to our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). In our actions, we will uphold justice, equality, fairness, and truth. Our focus will be on living according to Jesus' teachings and cultivating a faith that mirrors His teachings.
5. Do people see Jesus when they look at me?
I once heard a college peer pose a thought-provoking question, "Do others see Jesus when they look at you?" This question was perceived as challenging by the person asking, but all the other students studying the Bible at the college responded with a confident "yes" and continued on their way. Unfortunately, none of these students truly embodied the qualities of Jesus. Despite being raised in the church, their behaviors did not reflect Jesus' teachings. It is concerning that these individuals were unaware of their disconnect from Jesus.
Many people mistakenly believe that by dressing a certain way and putting on a fake smile, they are projecting a representation of Jesus to the world. However, reflecting Jesus to the world entails emulating His actions by showing love, kindness, and fairness toward others. It involves being selfless, compassionate, respectful, and humble, rather than seeking personal gain or displaying negative traits.
Examine your life to assess if your actions are consistent with Jesus' teachings or if they are instead aligned with sinful behavior. Reflecting on your actions is crucial, as they are a clear indicator of whether Jesus is truly guiding your life or not, as actions speak louder than words.
When individuals observe us and genuinely perceive Jesus in us, it will have a transformative impact on their lives. They will desire to cultivate a connection with Him and deepen their knowledge of Him. Conversely, if our behavior paints us as hypocritical, outsiders will also view Jesus in a negative light. Essentially, they may perceive Jesus as unkind, harmful, and rude if we behave hypocritically. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we nurture our faith so that Jesus is reflected through us for others to witness.