Examine Self

So I have started really digging into the Fruits of The Spirit. And wowww! Do I ever need to be sanctified! But before I post the first one, I was thinking about why to even study the Fruits... why even take the time to sit down and read the scripture and make application?....

The other day I went outside and ripped down these vines with both hands that have climbed about 10 feet up our trellis. Even though they sort of looked pretty, they wrapped themselves all around what looked to be a former shrub sort of plant on the ground. Nothing was left but dead husks and twigs. In the process, I managed to get pretty scratched up, a few cuts, and very dirty and sweaty. Any gardener can relate, yeah? 

Scripture makes it clear that as believers, we need to often examine ourselves and test our ways. Sin is like those nasty weed vines. They can root themselves and wrap all around our hearts, even sort of looking good. But in the end, we know they kill everything. The process of ripping out that sin can be tough! Those sins can be rooted deep and wrapped tight. And part of the problem can sometimes be ourselves! We may even help those sins hang on tight with one hand while trying to rip with the other. It can be a messy process. 

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!" -Lam 3:40

"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!" -2 Corin 13:5

"In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Hebrews 12:4

Genesis 4:7b Sin is crouching at the door. It's desire is for you, but you must rule over it. 

 "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." -James 1:22-25