You are probably similar with the verse from 1 Corinthians 11:28 which says: “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”
I would like us to focus on the other occasion where Paul asks us to examine ourselves which is in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
So we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. And how would we know?
The preceding verses to this say: He (that is Christ) is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
Twice Paul’s uses the phrase “by God’s power”. It is by God’s power we live with Christ so we examine ourselves to see if we are living by God’s power. Paul expected there to be evidence of God’s power at work in their lives.
So are we living a life we couldn’t live unless God’s power is in us? Perhaps we can say if it wasn’t for God’s power in my life I wouldn’t be able to forgive that person…Perhaps we can say if it wasn’t for God’s power in my life I wouldn’t be able to control my anger…Perhaps we can say if it wasn’t for God’s power in my life I wouldn’t have peace and joy. For me I know I can say if it wasn’t for God’s power in my life I would not be able to give a speech. So what is for you? What does the power of God enable you to do that you would not otherwise be able to do?
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? What do we do if we fail the test?
1 Corinthians 1:18 says: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The message of the cross is the power of God. As we take the break and cup we remember what Jesus has done on the cross and we ask for his presence to come powerfully into our lives so it does make a difference.
