Examine Yourself: A Biblical Invitation…

Confession: I’m a big fan of tests. I know—it’s nerdy, but I love demonstrating that I’ve grasped the content I’ve been taught. I also recognize that my love of tests is not the norm, and for most people, exams aren’t popular. So when Paul says “test yourself,” I can see how it might come across with negative connotations. But when we dig a little deeper, we see an invitation into a closer walk with Christ.

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 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

For context, Paul was sending this epistle, or letter, to the church at Corinth. In it, he’s sharing a message of defense—defending the truth of the Gospel and the authority of his ministry. In light of false teachers, Paul was challenging the body of believers in love. He wasn’t trying to condemn them. He was opening the door to self-examination. Something that all Christians need to do regularly in their walk with the Lord.

Paul encourages them to, “Examine yourself,” meaning take the time to look closely. This wasn’t necessarily a question of salvation, but one of “are you looking like the faith you profess?” So often, we call ourselves Christians, yet we don’t actually align ourselves with being a true disciple of Christ. And then, Paul takes it a step further with, “test yourself.” It’s like he’s calling their belief into action. If you are indeed a Christian, and you look like the faith you profess, are you really walking it out? It reminds me of when I was getting my first driver’s license. There was a written test with the rules of the road and a driving test to prove I knew how to put that knowledge into action. Paul is asking about both—knowledge and lived practice, because it is common to know better, but not do better. How often do we spout out Psalm 23, but succumb to fear, coveting, and anxiety? Exactly. Knowing and doing are two different things.

In this passage, Paul is presenting an invitation to perform a Holy Spirit–led check-in. And honestly, it’s time for us to do the same and ask: Am I growing in Christ? Is my faith rooted in Christ or routine? Do I see the evidence of His presence, like repentance, joy, humility, hunger for truth? Does my Monday look different because of Jesus?

One of the most dangerous places we can be is in church, but not in Christ. These questions push us deeper than the surface. They invite us to wrestle with where we actually struggle. Perhaps it’s pretending to believe, while our actions show the fruit of unbelief. Or being self-righteously blind to our own sins. Maybe it’s resting in our good works instead of finding confidence in our faith in Jesus Christ. Regardless of what is revealed, God never exposes what He doesn’t also want to restore. When we surrender it instead of striving, He meets us with grace every time. He reveals to redeem. He convicts to cleanse. He tests to transform.

Without regular examination, we drift. We confuse being busy with being fruitful. We settle for being around spiritual things instead of being transformed by the Holy Spirit Himself. That’s why this invitation matters—not just for individual believers, but for the Church as a whole.

The world doesn’t need more Christians who know the motions. It needs those who walk in the Spirit—those whose faith is marked by love, repentance, and action.

Selah

When was the last time you tested your walk? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Write down one area where you see growth, and one where you feel stuck. Create space to repent and pray for guidance on the next step to take. Then, invite a trusted friend or mentor to pray with you over it for accountability.

Take Care,