November 22, 2023

Lamentations 3: 40-42 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven, and say: “We have sinned and rebelled . . .” (NIV)

Personal transformation is the Spirit’s work.*

The Old Testament is rich with examples of how God tested his people. Through hardships, obstacles, and enemies, he tested their faith, challenged their obedience, and examined their hearts. Through the fires of testing, God refines his people to remove the impurities, leaving them all shiny like gold. Jeremiah’s words here, though, compel us to test ourselves. Just how do we go about doing that?

First, some commonsense advice: before you take a test, you study. Your textbook, the Bible, is lengthy and profound so you’d better get started. If you have just begun to familiarize yourself with the material, don’t panic. You are only responsible for the information that you have now. But don’t become complacent. God doesn’t expect you to stay in the first grade. The writer of Hebrews has some pretty strong words to say about those who lack progress in spiritual maturity: “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (5: 13, 14)

And so, the second step in preparing for your test is to ask yourself: am I still a bottle-fed baby or have I graduated to meat? Perhaps you’re still at the pureed fruits and vegetables stage. That’s progress. But no matter where you are in your walk of faith, the ultimate pre-test requirement is this: “Do not conform . . . to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is . . .” (Romans 12: 2) How do I do that? you ask. Check out I Corinthians 2: 10. “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” Yes, you get to cheat on this test. The Holy Spirit will sit next to you and help you with the answers!

Finally, Jeremiah suggests that we not stop with examining our ways. Our testing should be accompanied by returning to the Lord (we all wander away); lifting our hearts and our hands (worship); and confessing our sinfulness. Test yourself and see your need to repent.

Looking up and crying out to God for mercy would be useless until there was an inward look to see where the real problem existed.*