Command Check

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February 1
I received a powerful email from someone in the James Bible study related to our tool of confession. She writes:

 "I began to call to mind the commands I frequently break. These are the ones that came to mind." 
  • Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Not 95%, but 100%. (Matthew 22:37)
  • Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (Matthew 22:39)
  • Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling—inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)
  • Cast all your anxieties on him—so you are not being weighed down by it anymore. (1 Peter 5:7)
  • Only say things that give grace to others—especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)
  • Redeem the time. Don’t fritter or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)
Don’t know about you, but I am printing off this list as a confession guide. I am also adding some of Romans 12 to my list to help with my heart inspection.
Maybe it helps to think of our sin this way...if we were sprayed by a skunk and stunk, we’d certainly welcome a tomato juice bath to smell sweet again.
Or when we step in dog doo we are quick to rid our shoes of that stench.
How much more should we want our sins to be washed white as snow, so we don’t look so filthy before the Lord.  He loves to clean us up!

Is my love sincere?  Romans 12:9
Do I hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Romans 12:9
Am I devoted to fellow believers in love?  Romans 12:10
Do I honor others above myself?  Romans 12:10
Do I keep my spiritual fervor while serving the Lord and never lack in zeal?  Romans 12:11
Am I joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer?  Romans 12:12
Do I share with the Lord’s people who are in need?  Romans 12:13
Do I practice hospitality?  Romans 12:13
Do I bless, rather than curse, those who persecute me? Romans 12:14
Am I found rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn?  Romans 12:15
Am I living in harmony with one another?  Romans 12:16
Am I proud or acting conceited?  Romans 12:16
Do I willingly associate with people of low position?  Romans 12:16
Do I desire to repay evil for evil?  Romans 12:17
If possible do I do my best to live at peace with others?  Romans 12:18

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