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One of the abilities God is helping me to develop is the ability to humble myself. God told king Josiah, "Because...you humbled yourself before the Lord...I truly have heard you." As a result, he would not witness God's judgment on his people (2 kings 22:19-20). The key word is "yourself." when I became a believer, God placed in my hands the right to judge myself. If I fail to exercise that right, He will do it for me. Judging myself is simply *reviewing my relationship to God.* Most of the time that review reveal something *lacking or wanting.* It is at that point that I must humble myself *by admitting I am lacking and then asking God's forgiveness.*
If I judge myself, I am forgiven but not chastened (1 corinthians 11:31-32, KJV). But if i neglect to judge myself and then the Lord step in and do it for me, it means that He must *add His "chastening," which means feeling His *rod of correction.* When I was a young believer I used to say, "Accept Christ and God will never judge you." Now I know that is wrong. Really, it is, "Accept Christ and you will come under daily judgment!" Not the judgment of God's wrath upon my sins, but the judgment of God's spirit upon *the quality of my life.*
The world knows nothing of judging itself, only *justifying* itself. That is a key difference between a disciple and a wordling. I can always guage my spiritual life by asking a simple question: Am I justifying myself or judging myself? The justifier reveals that something has gone wrong underneath; the carnal nature is again in control. But the one who judges reveals that the Holy Spirit of God is *alive and well* in his heart. It is at that point that "the lord of peace himself [will] give [him] peace at all times and in every way" (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NIV).
"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, *leading to salvation* (not once and for all, but must be maintained!); but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). *AMEN*
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