The 15 Point Checklist!

This morning I’m sitting in the waiting area of the service center at my local car dealership having regularly schedule maintenance done on my Chevy Equinox.  As they change the oil on my car they will also be doing what they call their 21 Point Inspection.  That means, they will not only change the oil on my car but also check the other fluids, tire pressure, filters, belts, etc. And, they will hopefully address any concerns that they may find. They will use their 21 point checklist to make sure everything in my vehicle is at it ought to be.  It may seem time consuming and a bit inconvenient (after all, who likes sitting in a car dealership at 7:30 in the morning?), but it is of utmost importance if I’m to keep my vehicle running, as it ought to run.  

Yes, regular checkups for our vehicles are important—as they are for our bodies (that’s another subject!).  But, what about inspecting and checking on other parts of our lives such as how our relationship with God is going or how we are interacting with the people around us? What about looking for potential problems in what is happening within our hearts and minds? What about inspecting one’s emotional life or the spiritual tone of one’s life?

In this week’s Bible reading plan that our church has been using, we’ve been reading about having a spirit of love and servanthood. It’s been a great opportunity for us to evaluate the level of love and servanthood within each of our lives. It’s been an opportunity to ask God to help reveal any potential shortfalls within our lives and some things that we may need to work on. After all, the Bible is filled with checklists by which we might evaluate ourselves in this area. One of those is found in 1 Corinthians 13.  There the Apostle Paul gives to us what we might call, a “15 Point Checklist.” As you read it, allow the Holy Spirit to help you evaluate your life and see where you might be falling short, what parts of your life might need to be “topped off,” or even where everything may be going well.  Here’s Paul’s 15 Point Checklist:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

How did you do? How does your love measure up to God’s standard of love?  Maybe you need a little bit of maintenance. Maybe there are some parts that need to be “topped off” or even repaired. I know I’ve got some areas to pray about and work on! The same is probably true for you.

Let’s not be afraid to use God’s Word to help us inspect our hearts and lives. And today, let’s ask God to help us live up to his standard of love. After all, Jesus said that’s how the world will know we belong to him.  

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris