Time for a Spiritual Checkup
Scripture:
“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it… We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you.”
—2 Corinthians 13:5–9 (The Message)
Paul isn’t trying to alarm us. He’s trying to wake us up. There’s a difference between a faith that’s genuinely alive and one that’s simply assumed. Many people take their standing with God for granted, going through familiar motions without ever stopping to ask whether those motions are connected to anything real. Paul calls that drifting. And drifting, almost by definition, happens without you noticing.
Warren Wiersbe understood this well. Writing on the book of Hebrews, he observed: “More spiritual problems are caused by neglect than perhaps by any other failure on our part. We neglect God’s Word, prayer, worship with God’s people, and other opportunities for spiritual growth, and as a result, we start to drift. The anchor does not move; we do.”¹ That last line says everything. God hasn’t moved. The question is whether we have.
So what does a spiritual checkup actually look like? It starts with honest questions. Is there evidence that Jesus Christ is in you? Not perfection, but presence. Is He truly at the center of your life? Is there love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control growing in you? Are you seeking first His Kingdom, or have you quietly become more invested in the things of this world? These are better questions than how long you’ve been a Christian or how often you attend church.
The goal of the checkup isn’t guilt. Paul says it plainly: “We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you.” That’s the voice of a pastor, not a prosecutor. If the Spirit convicts, don’t run. Lean in. Let Him realign what’s been off, stir fresh hunger where there’s been apathy, and let today be a turning point. The anchor hasn’t moved. You can always find your way back to Him.
Reflection:
- When was the last time you honestly examined the health of your faith?
- Are there any signs that you’re drifting spiritually, losing focus, hunger, or joy in your walk with Jesus?
- What is one step you can take today to center your life more fully around Christ and His Kingdom?
Prayer:
Ask God to help you see clearly where you are in your faith journey. Thank Him for His grace and patience as He forms Christ in you. Invite the Holy Spirit to renew your desire for truth, and to help you walk closely with Jesus each day.
Footnote: ¹ Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Confident (Hebrews): Live by Faith, Not by Sight (Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 1982), p. 35.