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Measuring Spiritual Progress

Our society is fascinated with measuring things. As early as kindergarten children are taught to use a ruler and think about weight. Physicians measure children’s height, weight, and circumferences at the time they are born and then at regular checkups. With adults, they measure blood pressure, pulse, and temperature each time you visit. We are fascinated with measurements in the weather: humidity, highs and lows, dew points, and wind speed and direction. In business all kinds of things are measured: sales, quotas, employment, terminations, production, etc. And let’s not even get started on how many things the government measures!

Considering how many things can be measured, do we stop and think about measuring our personal spiritual progress? I’m sure that someone, somewhere might say, “You can’t measure that!” Can we? The fact of the matter is that anything that we may be motivated to do spiritually can be measured and God gives us plenty of spiritual activities in which we are to be engaged. Consider some of the following questions compiled by a Christian friend of mine who lives in Ohio:

1. Have you made all Sunday morning services this year? (Hebrews 10:25)
2. Have you taken any notes at church this year? (2 Timothy 2:15)
3. Did you review your notes later at home? (2 Peter 1:13-15)
4. Did you share your notes with someone else? (Mark 16:15)
5. Have you visited those in need, the elderly, the sick, the orphan? (James 1:27)
6. Have you purchased outside study material this year? (2 Timothy 4:13)
7. Have you attended any gospel meetings this year? (Acts 20:7)
8. Did you read your Bible last week? (1 Timothy 4:13)
9. Have you handed out any tract information this year? (Matthew 28:18-20)
10. Do you attend mid-week classes when your child has sports? (Matthew 6:33)
11. Do you think about the words during congregational worship? (1 Corinthians 14:15)
12. Have you ever missed Sunday Evening services for the Superbowl? (1 Corinthians 10:31)
13. If your church holds a gospel meeting, are you there? (Hebrews 3:13)
14. Do you sing out loud with the congregation or mumble through? (Colossians 3:16)
15. Do you pray each day? (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
16. Did you read your Bible every day this month? (Acts 17:11)
17. When was the last time you taught a class at church? (Hebrews 5:12)
18. When last did you study the Bible with someone, outside of Church? (Acts 8:4)
19. When was the last time you helped clean the building? (Philippians 2:3-4)
20. In the past, when relatives have visited, have you skipped a service? (Matthew 16:24-26)
21. Do you prepare for your classes before attending? (1 Peter 3:15)
22. When you travel, do you attend a mid-week Bible study? (Acts 28:15)
23. When you travel, do you attend more than once on Sunday? (1 Peter 1:22)
24. Do you study the Bible each day with your children? (Ephesians 6:4)
25. Do your children have a regular Bible study schedule? (Deuteronomy 6:7)

These questions are not designed to make anyone feel guilty for not engaging in such activities. Neither are they designed for us to measure our own righteousness and tout that above others. These are personal questions to be answered privately by each individual, to motivate us to examine our level of spiritual health and encourage us to become more spiritual. Each of these questions are supported by scripture that they are things that we need to be doing. Some of them are specifically enjoined; others are enjoined generally. We can measure our personal level of spiritual involvement if we are open, honest with ourselves, and willing to abide by the word of God (2 Corinthians 13:5). I want to encourage each one of you to take some time this week and go through this list and pick a few things upon which to focus so that your life can be more spiritual. This exercise is between you and God; there will be no test given by the elders or the preacher; there will however be a final exam one day.

This article written in cooperation with Travis Main.