What grade do you believe you would receive if the Lord decided to give you a test, not about your Spiritual knowledge, not on your Scriptural abilities, on the amount of verses you have memorized, not even on your willingness to serve, but on your sincerity?
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
Not so I can say how many verses I know, or even the proper ones to bring up in conversations at the proper time, but because you sincerely love His Word.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
Not in only an emotional context, but in the actions that we take to glorify His name, and in all sincerity for that reason only.
God looks on the heart, and what He is looking for is that sincere individual that cares little about the path of this world, for there is no fear in us of it. He looks at whether or not what He places in our path is accepted as His will, if we try to move around that trial, if the tribulation is something we would just as soon not bear. He wants to know how sincere we are when we say, “Thy will be done.”
So then, employ 1st Corinthians 11:31 in your heart and grade yourself, the standard A,B,C,D or F, where do you place yourself?
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
I would presume that most of us would believe that “A” grade to be presumptuous, close to pridefull in fact, and that “F” would not quite fit us either, for indeed our heart is set on serving profitably and for His glory.
Those who balance the assurance of their salvation with at least a partial emotional context would probably chose that “D” grade, while those who have studied and continue to study daily His Word, contemplating His will and ways might venture a “B.”
But most would feel comfortable in the middle grade, a “C,” perhaps even a “C+.”
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2nd Peter 3:18)
Growing in this regard infers a desire to become more profitable, more willing, more submissive to the will of the Almighty for our lives. My friends, to achieve a higher grade, we must lose more of ourselves.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
Casting the world with its wants and cares behind us, seeking His face for His glory, searching diligently for the truths of the Scriptures, as well as for those who are still lost. Working while waiting, studying while applying, praying without ceasing.
In all humility you must consider this now, the grade you have given yourself, is it the grade that our Master Teacher has given you? There is no grading on a curve here, we stand alone before our Maker, accountable only to Him, He is the one that gives and removes rewards, and they are based on the sincerity of your heart.
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” (Luke 18:11)
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
We are not all equal here, we were all equal at the cross, but the Living God is no respecter of persons. We are not all David, a man after His own heart, we serve as He calls us to serve, and expect nothing from His hand but what He has promised us.
Do not try to set the sincerity of your heart based on what you think you should be, base it on what the Most High asks you to be, commands you to be, set apart, no longer of this world, obedient by your own free will to His will for your life. Run a good race, stay strong in your resolve, do all you do for His glory.
Be sincere, strive to remove from yourself that which keeps you at that lower grade.
