Probing and Examining
Yesterday was the 2nd Sunday of Lent. We’re still in the time of examining our hearts and minds as we make our way to Easter. We are desiring a “clean” bill of spiritual health from our Heavenly Physician, Father God.
Yesterday at Epiphany Ranch (my children’s personal and ministry property), I was beyond blessed to watch women be baptized in Epiphany’s 7-acre lake. Freezing cold? Yes. Forever changed? Yes. The first ones of many baptisms that will take place there. These women desired to become SUPER clean through baptism.
Baptism is just that. These women had already professed their trust and faith in Christ, asking Him to forgive them from their mistakes, sins, and failures. Then they committed to following Him all the days of their lives. Yesterday they took the next step of following Christ in the waters of Baptism.
When we go down into the water, we’re reminded of Jesus’ death on the cross and His payment for our sins. But when we come out of the water, we’re reminded that three days later, “Jesus rose from the dead!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that if we’re in Christ, we’re new creations. It reminds us that the old is gone, and the new has come!
In short, in their baptisms they confessed their faith and “coming clean”. Now they will live their lives as “brand new creations”. What a grand celebration we had together.
Now, it is an ongoing determination to live a life of “What would Jesus do?” in our actions and reactions. It is allowing ourselves to be probed and examined — based on this scripture: “I the LORD probe the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10) Obviously God has on His holy stethoscope and He does the examining.
I’ll be honest with you, the last thing on my “to do” list is go to my doctor for an annual check-up. She probes, examines and a lot of other tests to see what’s going on inside me. In fact, it will soon be time for my annual check-up. I’m shoving that thought under the pile of must-dos. But I know I’ll relent, and I’ll make that call because I want to keep on top of any potential issues that could slow me down.
And the same is true for a heart and mind check-up. God, the Master Examiner, is in the business of probing and examining – because He loves us so much and He wants us to maintain good spiritual health. He wants to keep us on top of any potential issues that could slow us down from reaching our ultimate potential and purpose.
What God does in His probing, is to shine His light on an area of weakness — not to reveal weakness or flaws or mistakes but does it so He can bring us into a closer and deeper relationship with Him.
This is really such a good time to invite Him to probe our minds and test our hearts. God is so patient with us. He is ever forgiving, extending his unmerited favor and grace on us. All we must do is open our heart to Him today. He’ll handle all the clean-up and purifying process. And the best news is — it’s PAIN-FREE, and the results are long-lasting!