“O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me – those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil! Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139: 19-24

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! Be certain God does and will search my (our) heart(s) and mind(s). God knows, He has searched out and sorted through each though and action. In these days, this past few weeks when the news is full of violence, shootings and demonstrations, groups taking sides, pointing fingers and angrily yelling at each other, God examines and searches our motives, He knows whether or not our hearts and minds are pure. While we Jesus followers are called to hold each other accountable we are also called to share Jesus, not only with each other – but with all, especially those who don’t know/are separated from Jesus. I pray there is no wickedness, no evil in me; I pray I honestly examine myself. That I may confess and ask forgiveness before God judges for the last time, but more to the point that I be Christlike.