Theme: SELF APPRAISAL
Text: “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” – 1 Corinthians 11: 31, 32.
Comment: Worshippers of the True God prize dearly their responsibility for self-appraisal as a step necessary for salvation. They are afraid to break the commandments because they fear God. They are aware that the whole world lieth in wickedness, due to the influence of Satan the Devil. So, they quickly repent of their sins, to obtain God’s favour. (1 John 1: 9,10) In the long run, the brothers of Joseph judged themselves for what they did to him and realized how badly they had treated their own brother. (Genesis 37: 25-28; 42: 21, 22) Their conscience continued to judge them even after their father’s death, despite Joseph’s forgiveness and assurances that he would not bring their sins upon them. – Genesis 50: 15-21.
After King David had taken Uriah’s wife, he hatched a plan to have him killed in battle by the sword of the Ammonites. Because he repented well, God had mercy and spared his life. However he was not left unpunished, as he suffered series of crises, because he had despised the Lord’s commandment, and his evil deeds had ‘given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme’. (2 Samuel chapters 11 – 18) ‘For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” – 1 John 2: 20, 21. See also Psalm 32: 5.