“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” – John 6:27
I admit I am driven my numbers when it comes to physical health. Today, when I got on the scale, I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw! As I thought about the validation I received for my physical work, I began to think about how I could measure success spiritually. In my physical health journey, I can get on the scale each week or take my body’s measurements to know how successful I have been with that aspect of my heath, but I have no scale to measure my spiritual health progress. Do I measure my spiritual success by how often I read my Bible or how often I pray? Do I measure it by the times or ways that I serve God? No, I don’t believe these are the best ways to measure my spiritual health. I need a standard of measure that is consistent and sure.
The only way to measure my spiritual health is by measuring it against the standard set by the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 6:40 states, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” The more I am like Jesus, the healthier my spiritual life. But exactly how do I achieve that?
As always, the answers are in the Scriptures themselves! Here are some guidelines I found by which I can measure by spiritual health.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice evermore.”
- Do I live a life of rejoicing? Do I rejoice in my salvation? When a situation is difficult or heartbreaking, do I rejoice that God remains in control, knows about it, and will deliver me from it?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
- Are my prayers as natural to me as breathing? Are my prayers given in the spirit of worship and thanksgiving, or only asked out of need? Which kinds of prayer do I offer to God? How often do I pray? How much thought goes into them?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
- Do I give thanks to God in the bad times as well as the good? Do I remember that God is in all things in my life? Though I may not see how or understand the whys, do I rejoice and give thanks that He is in my life, and His reasons for allowing things in my life demonstrate His love and care for me, and have a divine purpose?
- I Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit.”
- Do I often ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit? When He reminds me to read the Word, do I listen and obey? Do I fail to heed Him?
- I Thessalonians 5:20 – “Despise not prophesyings.”
- Do I respect the preaching of the Word of God? Do I value it? Do I apply it to my life?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
- Do I search the Scriptures for understanding, comparing what I hear and think to what God’s Word says about it? Do I use the Bible as my ultimate source of wisdom and guidance? Do I adhere to its precepts in my life?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
- Do I look like the world? Speak like the world? Act like the world? Do I take an active stand against ungodliness, or do I compromise?
This is not an all-inclusive list, but it is a very good place to start. In each of these verses, I can clearly see these attributes in Jesus’ life, therefore they are excellent standards for me to strive to attain in my own life.
The Bible says we should “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) How close am I to Christ? Not as close as I would like. I have a long way to go, but with His help, I will get there!
More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.
More like the Master I would live and grow;
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be.
Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart, and make it all Thine own;
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.
(from “More Like the Master” by Charles H. Gabriel)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” – Philippians 1:6
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Can others see Jesus in you?