examine – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:16:52 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png examine – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 Examine Yourself https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/examine-yourself/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:16:52 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=98402

by Hugh DeLong

As we close our reading of the letters to the Corinthian church, we see yet again their questioning of Paul’s apostleship and authority (cp. II Corinthians 13.3). Now in II Corinthians 13:5, Paul turns this around and challenges them: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”(II Corinthians 13:5).

This principle was stated by Jesus:

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

Such testing requires a standard to test by! A standard outside our own opinions and estimations. That standard is ‘the faith’ – the revealed teachings of the New Covenant. This is not asking how I feel about my spirituality; it is asking me to look into the mirror of Scripture and see whether my life matches up.

The goal of our life is the transformation of my character to be like Jesus. This concept of transformation and the change of our character is repeated:

  • Romans 12:1-2 – be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
  • Ephesians 4:22-24 – put off the old self, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self.
  • Philippians 2:5 – Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

This is more than a checklist (although it includes specifics of conduct); it is my whole attitude toward Jesus and His example and teaching (including what He revealed through the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:3-5).

While this does not exclude examining others, it demands that we first examine ourselves. Are you doing this? Are you doing this daily? Are you becoming more and more like our Master?

]]> 98402 I Need to Find Myself https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/i-need-to-find-myself/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:13:02 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=91521

by Zeke Flores

Remember the "I need to find myself" craze of a decade or two ago? People were off on spontaneous and sometimes irresponsible adventures to "find myself." A cynic might have simply pointed to that person and said, "There you are, I found you!"

In his book "In Search of Myself," D. R. Davies says, "I found myself in finding God. What I was searching for was for my own identity, and without knowing it, my search was for God." Great insight there. Who better to sort out the identity issues, the confusion of "self" than the One who made you, who instilled in you the intricacies that make you you, and Who knows you better than anyone else, including yourself?

It's no accident that the word of God is called a mirror (James 1:23-25). In it, we see our flaws and shortcomings, our blemishes and blunders. But we also see what God sees in us: our potential and our possibilities. God's word digs deep into who we are as humans, into our very selves, and probes for flaws that He might fix -- for good. This is the real search for self, and finding oneself in God's way of things is the only discovery of self-worth making.

So, take a look into the divine mirror. Look closely and with a sincere desire to find— and fix —the flaws. Then, you'll be remade into a new self, one that shows your true purpose: to reflect the image of the One who made you you, the real you that you were meant to be!

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13).

]]> 91521 Test Yourself https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/test-yourself/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:49:33 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=90953

by Hugh DeLong

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (II Corinthians 13:5 ESV).

We see in the two letters to the Corinthians that some of the disciples there were examining Paul, questioning his apostleship. So now he turns the tables on them. They need to test themselves as he has answered their challenges.

The word ‘examine’ (‘test’ in NASB) in this passage is from a Greek word which has the connotation of “examination for the purpose of fault finding or rejection. They are often used in connection with Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness…. It was used to “convey the attempt to trap Jesus (cf. Matt. 4:1; 16:1; 19:3; 22:18, 35; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:38; Heb. 2:18).” [Bob Utley’s commentary on II Corinthians].

Of course we know that Jesus will be the ultimate judge and will judge all of us (II Corinthians 5:10). Paul, having answered their challenges, knows he has not ‘failed the test’ – he knows he is “an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—” (Galatians 1:1).

He assures them that he is coming to see them again, and at that time there will be a public ‘test’ – and exposure of who is correct concerning Paul’s apostleship. All I know is that I would hate to be in the shoes of these challenging brethren at that time. “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord” (I Corinthians 14:37).

]]> 90953 See for Yourself! https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/see-for-yourself/ Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:44:57 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=89543

by David Gibson

Check it out!

Truth can bear rigorous investigation. Error cannot.

The Bible encourages seekers to examine the evidence for the Christian faith (Luke 1:1-4; 24:36-43; John 1:45-51; 4:28-30, 39-42; 20:19-21; Acts 17:9-11; I Peter 3:15).

Here are some areas worth investigating:

  • How the Bible came into being,
  • Fulfilled Old Testament prophecies,
  • The miracles of Christ,
  • Evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, including the eyewitness testimony of the apostles,
  • The remarkable changes Christ has made in countless lives.

How do you explain . . . ?

At one time, Saul of Tarsus was the church’s chief antagonist, but then became its leading proponent. What led him to do such an about-face? For the answer, please consider his dramatic conversion story, as recorded in Acts 9, 22, and 26.

Paul is well qualified to testify. He has been there—on both sides. He was totally convinced that his newfound faith was well worth suffering for, even dying for. In addition, there is the tremendous influence Paul’s life and writings have had, even down to our day: “No single event, apart from the Christ-event itself, has proved so determinant for the course of Christian history as the conversion and commissioning of Paul” [F. F. Bruce, Apostle of the Heart Set Free, p. 75].

An assured faith

As the last stanza of the hymn “Art Thou Weary?” so beautifully states it:

Finding Him, and foll’wing, keeping,
Is He sure to bless?
Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
Answer, “‘Yes!’”

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