Rate yourself in each of the following on a scale of 1 – 10 (1 = weak, 10 = strong)
1. My commitment to Christ is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2. My obedience to Christ and His Word is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3. My public example as a Christian is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
4. My diligence in reading the Bible is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5. My private moral life (when no one is looking) is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6. My prayer life is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7. My desire to serve God with my life is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
8. My use of my talents for Christ is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9. My love for those who are different or unlovely is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10. My willingness to avoid being part of a clique is:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
I grew up in church. I learned how to look like a Christian when I was very young. I knew the right words to say to make others think I was a good Christian. I became fluent in Christianese. I knew how to play the game. This is not to say that my decision to accept Christ was not real, but if I wanted to hide my true self and my true intentions, it was very easy. I could behave like a devout and pious Christian on the outside, while being rebellious on the inside. But this is a very dangerous game.
This is the game that King Saul, in the Old Testament, was playing with God. But he got caught and lost everything. Saul decided that he would offer a sacrifice to honor God, but he was supposed to wait for Samuel the priest to do this. His disobedience cost him his kingdom. Samuel told him, in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed is better than the fat of rams.” Obedience is a matter of the heart. So the outward act of sacrifice did not honor God, since Saul’s heart was disobedient to God’s command.
On the other hand, we see David being chosen as the next King of Israel because his heart is right. Even though he was young and didn’t look like much, God tells Samuel that “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). This idea is clear throughout the entire Bible. God looks at the your heart. So even if your outward actions seem good and right, but your motives are selfish, God knows. You can fool people, but you can’t fool God.
Answer the questions in this survey honestly. If find that you are not where God would want you to be, ask Him for forgiveness and for the help to change your heart. He will forgive because of Jesus’ sacrifice and His amazing love for you. And He sent His Holy Spirit to help you become what He wants you to be.
