Do you pursue excellence? For what reason? Do you do it because you believe in the value of what you are doing and want it to be your best effort? Or is it because people are watching and you want to make a good impression? You know which of these is the ‘right’ answer, but don’t be quick to assume that you are not influenced by the opinion of others. Do you put the same effort forth if you know that no one else will ever know as you do the value of your work?
Do you donate money to my work? Why do you give? In some churches it is expected and highly encouraged. Some would say that manipulation is involved. Some who apply pressure to give promise blessings in return. They are not in a position to make this promise, since they do not provide the blessings, but you will get blessed if you give. But then again you will get blessed even if you don’t give. So giving is not a financial transaction or an investment. What other reason could there be?
Do you like listening to recorded messages? These are increasingly common in your world of technology. They are here to stay although they are not well-liked. Do you have recorded messages of your own playing in your head? When certain situations come up, or certain people come to mind, does your assessment of them spring to mind and play through unbidden? How is this different from making a phone call and listening to a recorded message? Do yours work in favor of or against true understanding and love? If they are not working for you then ask me to erase them.
It is heart-breaking when the church teaches lies that keep God’s children from hearing His voice. Jesus encountered religious leaders in His time, hindering believers from coming to God. It is still being experienced today. God’s warning about damaging one's faith is exceedingly strict (Matt. 18:6).
Have you lived a life without regrets? Have you heard other people say this fairly late in life, and express it as a point of pride? This implies that they did everything perfectly right from the beginning. What would you have to repent of if there was nothing that you regretted? Yet you have met other people who are consumed by their regrets and this is not healthy either. How do you deal with yours? Consider them from the perspective of redemptive purpose.
Have you ever gone on a diet? People reduce the amount of food they eat to lose weight. Is this the only type of diet? Can you go on a spiritual diet and lose spiritual weight? A conventional diet may take intention, support, and will power, but many people go on a spiritual diet without conscious consideration. All that is necessary is to substitute other things in an effort to satisfy your spiritual hunger. What do you ask me for? Do you recall the scriptural account in which I granted their request but sent leanness into their souls? You don’t want a lean soul.
Have you been born again? Did you consider this to be a faith crisis? Having emerged to a larger place you may not remember it this way, but did you think of it this way at the time? Have you gone through another faith crisis since then? This may not be something you would seek, but consider those who have gone through such experiences. Don’t you find them to emerge with a faith that is stronger, more generous, more loving and inclusive? Isn’t every conversion an improvement? I told Nicodemus that he must be born again. You can be born again, again and again.
Advancements in technology have permitted people to have their DNA analyzed to trace their national ancestry and identify close relatives. Many people doing this have been surprised to find that their place of origin was not what they expected, and have found surprises in their family tree. Even if you have not done this yourself, do you see how it can create a stronger sense of common humanity? Do you understand that I am the Father of all? Is this just an intellectual doctrinal position or do you live your life with an awareness that you are connected to all?
From whom will you accept correction? Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness to me. Do you find it hard to take correction? Does it matter who gives it? Perhaps it is easier for you to receive correction from recognized spiritual authority. Is it harder to receive it from those new in the faith, or outside the faith altogether? Yet I can use them as effectively as those whose authority you recognize, and sometimes more so. The source doesn’t matter as much as the validity of the correction.
A poet described a world in which the best lack all conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity. Would you want to live in such a world? Do you? Do you see the wicked doing evil with great enthusiasm? Do you think you would be able to persuade them to turn it down? The only half of the equation that you are able to influence is your own. Do you do good with the same degree of fervor that the evil do evil? They may grow weary of sin on their own.
