2 John 8 LOOK TO YOURSELVES, that we lose not those things which we have wrought [worked for], but that we receive a full reward.
1 Corinthians 11:28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (NIV)
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
AW Pink:
“A true knowledge of ourselves cannot be acquired without diligent and frequent self examination. To this duty there exists in human nature a strong repugnance, so that by most it is greatly neglected. But when it is attempted, we are in much danger of being misled by self love and prejudice. To acquire any true knowledge of ourselves a good degree of honesty and impartiality is essentially requisite. But an honest desire to arrive at the truth is not the only prerequisite to self knowledge: the mind must be enlightened in regard to the standard of rectitude to which we ought to be conformed: the Word of God should dwell richly in us, and by its principles and precepts we must form all sentiments respecting ourselves.”
AW Pink:
“Self knowledge is that acquaintance with ourselves which reveals to us what we are and do, and what we ought to be and do in order to our living usefully here and happily hereafter. The means of it is self examination in the light of Holy Scripture. The purpose of it is self government: Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).”
JC Ryle:
“Is it not astonishing that we should go on repeating periodically, "Search me, O God, and know my faults," yet neglect to examine ourselves? Is there not something more like defiance than devotion to invite the inspection of Omniscience to that heart which we ourselves neglect to inspect? How can any of us as Christians solemnly cry out to God, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life," while we neglect to examine our hearts and are afraid of testing our thoughts, dreading to ask if there be any way of wickedness in us, knowing that the inquiry ought to lead to the expulsion of sin?”
Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Jeremiah 6:16 The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So CONSIDER your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not follow it!” (NET)
Isaiah 1:3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." (NKJ)
Lamentations 3:40-41 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Charles Spurgeon:
"Examine yourselves." Go right through yourselves from the beginning to the end. Stand not only on the mountains of your public character, but go into the deep valleys of your private life. Be not content to sail on the broad river of your outward actions, but go follow back the narrow nil till you discover your secret motive. Look not only at your performance, which is but the product of the soil, but dig into your heart and examine the vital principle. "Examine yourselves." This is a very big word—a word that needs thinking over; and I am afraid there be very few, if any of us, who ever come up to the full weight of this solemn exhortation—"Examine yourselves."
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Thomas Watson:
“Self-examination is the setting up a court in conscience and keeping a register there, that by strict scrutiny a man may know how things stand between God and his own soul. Self-examination is a spiritual inquisition; a bringing one's self to trial. A good Christian doth as it were the day of Judgment here in his own soul. Self-searching is a heart-anatomy.”
AW Pink: The benefits of self knowledge are too numerous for us to mention. We single out one: the man who knows himself best knows wherein he most needs to deny himself.
Psalm 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. (KJV)
Psalm 119:59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. (NIV)
Hebrews 3:12–13
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives. (NAS)
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands TAKE HEED lest he fall.
Matthew 7:3–5
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, FIRST take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
AW Pink:
“The more ignorant we are of ourselves, the readier we are to condemn others; but the better acquainted we are with ourselves, the slower shall we be in rashly censuring others for the same crimes of which we are guilty.”
Romans 2:1–3
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
Galatians 6:3-5
3. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load. (NKJ)
2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Psalm 37:23
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
Proverbs 20:24
24 A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?
Isaiah 55:8–9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Psalm 119:9–11
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to THY WORD.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 THY WORD have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2 Timothy 1:12
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 4:7–8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
“God so desires that we look into our selves. It is one thing for someone else to point out our inconsistencies but think about the change that can come by a person who is willing to deal with his own inadequacies, without having to have someone else expose them for him. There is a great purpose in being honest with oneself in order to correct your own flaws.” Unknown writer
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