What have we done for Christ? This was heavy, consuming work. How were they going to build their own homes, in the light of what they were supposed to be doing? In our collective ministry and as individuals, do we represent the Lord as miserable people? Are there unpleasant ways that we have not sorted out? We may lose a whole chunk of our lives if we do not review them often. If we do it annually then we limit how much wasted time we have in our lives. What have we done in helping others, shepherding the flock? Can the Lord depend on us to bring the gossiping tongue to an end, or to notice absences? I may be an elderly Christian, but there is still something for me to do.
What have we learnt? We are all learners in the church of God. They had striven to set up their lives. They had gone in and out of hard experiences in Babylon and seemingly learnt nothing. Chastisements are usually born of not reflecting on our ways. If lessons are not learnt, or are still to be learnt, God may have to teach us again. Have we learnt our shortcomings, the things we leave out, in order to take the measures we need to take? If you say, ‘The Lord taught me nothing this year’, then you are saying, ‘I had nothing to learn.’ Maybe we did not bear it in mind carefully enough at the time. What have we learnt of his power? Maybe we are not asking for his deliverance. What have we learnt about the Lord’s work? Some may not even know what is going on in their local church: about the missionaries supported, about the departments of the work. What have we learnt about others: their trials, their difficulties, what have we done to help them? This is an indication often of how far we fall short. See how much more you would have been blessed. You might have prayed about all these things and then been overwhelmed by God’s answers.
Let us consider our ways in the following areas:
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1. Ourselves – my sanctification. What have I learnt, been taught? What have I to give attention to?
2. My witness – have I worked to overcome my natural cowardice, and not abandoned lost souls to their fate?
3. My family circle – have I taken seriously my duties to wife, husband, children?
4. My position in the church – do I effectively accomplish anything as part of the collective work? In neighbourhood evangelism work, in caring for visitors, in Sunday School?
5. Through the whole land, to other churches - what is my attitude? Do I have a role?
}