An X-Ray Examination

"Search me, 0 God, and know my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me" (Psa. 139: 23). 

We have before us the prayers of an honest soul. Now, reader, let us hold our soul and body and spirit up before God and pray with the psalmist, "Search me, 0 God, and see if there be any wicked way in me." While we do this, let us be judgment-day honest, as He searches us out in this lesson.

1. Our first prayer is, Search my consecration, and see if I am as fully abandoned to Thee as I was when I was first saved or sanctified. See if I have drawn back on my service fully to Thee. Or have I drawn back in laying out my means for Thy cause's sake and for the salvation of souls. See if I am in any way shirking my cross, or failing to deny myself on all lines for Thee and Thy cause's sake, as I agreed to when You saved me.

2. Search my love, and see if there is any creature or thing in the universe that is sharing my heart. Yes, see if there is anything under the sun that I enjoy more than Thee, that I sacrifice to more than Thee, that I delight in more than Thee, that I think of more than Thee, that I disadvantage myself for as much as I do for Thee.

3. Search my conversation, and see if there is any backbiting in it, any evil-speaking, any criticism, any slang, any guile, sham, deceit, any harshness, any extravagance, any false impressions, any half truth which means a whole lie.

4. Search my conduct, and see if in all I do or say, in all walks of life (as far as I understand), it is like the conduct of Jesus Christ (1 John 2: 6), both in the dark and the light; at home or abroad; in church or out of church; with women or men; with saint or sinner; yes, everywhere, holy and upright.

5. Search my heart, and see if it contains any anger, any envy, any pride, any jealousy, any impatience; any malice, any prejudice, any bigotry, any impetuousness, any covetousness, any lust, any fear of man that bringeth a snare, any hypocrisy, any shrinking, any evil shame and false modesty, any unbelief, any self-love, any love of praise, any love of authority, any love of prominence.

6. Search my thoughts, and see if I in any way entertain any unclean, unholy thought. See if I at any time cherish or entertain uncharitable imaginations and suspicions, about any man or woman upon earth. See if I entertain any thought that I would blush to have Thee know.

7. Search my faith, and see if it is free from all wavering, all doubts, all mistrust, and uneasiness. Search my Christian zeal, and concern for Thy work and lost souls. See if I shed any more midnight tears for souls. See if I asked any more midnight prayers for souls. See if I disadvantage myself to warn and seek them out. See if I have any soul concern at all for them. See if I am indolent and careless in regard to Thy work, and in praying from house to house, and distributing tracts. See if I am prompt in attending the religious services, as in days gone by. See if I make as much of an effort to attend all the services as I used to. See if I love the services as I used to. See if I love to testify like I used to. See if I love the prayer-meetings like I used to. See if I love the Bible and religious literature as I once did. O, search me! Search my courage, and see if I am afraid to testify for thee in all places and against all forms and classes of sin, such as lodges, tobacco, adultery, worldly dress, church entertainments, the wearing of gold, etc. See if I am afraid to testify that Thou dost save people from all sin and sanctify them wholly in this present world. See if I am afraid to have family prayer, or ask the blessing on my food when strangers are around.

10. Search the way I spend the money Thou dost leave in my charge, and see if I am a faithful steward. See if I waste any of it for unnecessary things, such as laces, ribbons, feathers, ornaments, jewelry, fireworks, etc.

11. Search my vows with Thee and my fellow man, and see if I have lived up to my agreements, in keeping my word, paying my debts, paying all vows both to Thee and my fellow man and to my family.

12. Search my influence, and see if I have been the cause of any weak brother or sister stumbling and losing his way to Thee. See if I have in any way set a bad example, or in any way influenced some one to do or speak wrong, or caused him to return to something that he once felt convicted to give up, but was influenced to return to it by my careless living before him.

13. Search my obedience, and see if I am prompt in obeying all of the soft whispers and checks and reproofs of the Spirit.

14. Search my motive, and see if it is perfectly free from all self-seeking, all self interest, all desire for anything but to the glory of Thee.

Now, dear reader, God has answered your prayers and searched you; so if you have found any defects, go in to have them removed.