THE EXAMINATION

Mark tells the story of a paralyzed man who was carried by four men on a bed into the presence of Jesus. They could not get through the crowd so they broke up the roof, and when they had uncovered the roof, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay, and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, "Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee"

People will go to all kinds of extremes to take care of the physical body. These men did not bring this man for forgiveness they brought him for healing. Today people pay exorbitant prices to get hospital insurance for the body. We take shots, swallow pills, submit to operations, get something cut out. or cut off, all for the purpose of caring for the body. Doctors advise us to get a physical examination every year. One lady told me she did not want to get a physical because she was afraid the Doctor might find something wrong with her and she did not want to know what it was.

The Apostle Paul advises us to get a spiritual examination when he tells us regarding the Lord's Supper, "Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." We need that examination every Lord's Day. Examine yourself and see if there is anything wrong with you. Did you pass through the whole week and not even open the Bible one time to feed your soul on the bread of life? Examine yourself. Did you go through the whole week and pray no more than the one-minute prayer you pray at bedtime as fire insurance just in case you don't make it through the night? Examine yourself. Would anyone last week have suspected that you are a Christian and taken knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus? Examine yourself and then eat of the loaf and drink of the cup of the One who said, "This do in remembrance of Me."