Bible Passage: “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:39-50
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Plato’s quote from his Apology resonates with biblical wisdom and truth, regardless of his religious convictions.
But examination isn’t necessarily easy or intuitive. It requires time and attention. Deliberation and objectivity. Things many men are good at…in some circumstances.
In today’s verses, Jeremiah calls Israel to self-reflection. To take time to focus thoughts on the internal life of the nation and her people.
This is the part that’s difficult for men.
As we lead in our homes, churches, jobs, and or communities, we’re more than happy to map out a process plan, crunch a budget, organize a work performance review, or schedule a fitness regime.
However, when it comes to our own internal life, the lens is easier to focus on the outward things.
Our character, our relationships, our marriages, our fatherhood, our spiritual disciplines, our growth—these often escape the same kind of scrutiny that we freely and willingly give to other areas.
But that is what Jeremiah calls us to. Rigorous and ruthless self-assessment.
“Let us examine our ways and test them.”
Not if you feel like it, not when you have a moment, or if you feel like the outcome may be favorable. It is a call to act. To do.
He does not end there, and the progression is important:
Examine and test first. Scrutinize, take recordings of, see what pressures it can stand up to. Do our actions meet the standard?
What comes next?
Return.
There is a structured process. The order is important. We do not return before we examine and test.
What does that mean?
We are not to bring a vague sense of guilt and marginal sense of regret. When we return to the Lord, we come with a broken heart and a contrite spirit that is born of true and honest wrestling with our actions.
Men are good at the external. But we are called to do exactly what Plato has said is a life worth living and what Jeremiah calls us to: self-examination that leads to confession and repentance. Let us return to the Lord.
Prayer: Father God, give me the strength and insight to examine my own life to see where I am failing the standards I know to be true. I want to return to You from whatever way I have walked away. Amen.
Reflection: Spend some time in self-reflection today. Ask God to show you both where and what to test to see if you have allowed yourself to move away from Him in any way.
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