April 29th, 2026
Examinations
Jeremiah 17:10 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Exams are rarely fun. I would say are never fun, but I am sure that there are a few of you who read this who view exams as “celebrations of learning.” To the rest of you, you probably think of exams less as opportunities to learn what you don’t know and more as an anxiety-inducing challenges.
As I write this, I am preparing to be examined on the Presbytery floor, and I am reminded that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Human examinations can be stressful because we examine that which can be seen, but our God in heaven examines the depths of who we are and what lies within us.
On the one hand that is very encouraging. God knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. God’s examination is exhaustive and perfect. On the other hand, that is terrifying because “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick.” But if I can encourage you today, let it be this:
When examined by people, they may approve or disapprove of you based on their perception of who you are. Don’t let a person’s opinion of you determine your sense of self-worth and value. But know that God examines you, and he knows your every thought, desire, and deed no matter how selfish and sinful or well-intentioned and honorable. If there were a scale to judge us in that examination by God, we would all fail the exam (sorry for the bad news), but God also gave us His Son in Jesus Christ to take this examination of life in our place (that’s the good news!). When examined, there is only one question that truly matters: Do you want to receive the grade you earned or do you want the grade Jesus has earned?
Pride tells us that we should impress God by the fruit of our deeds, but humility reminds us that all our fruit is rotten and inedible. Choose to place your confidence in Jesus today and everyday, and hear the words of John, “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:28-29).
Exams aren’t fun, but they don’t need to induce any anxiety or fear in us because we stand in Christ’s righteousness!
United in Christ,
Rev. Joshua Fried
Jeremiah 17:10 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Exams are rarely fun. I would say are never fun, but I am sure that there are a few of you who read this who view exams as “celebrations of learning.” To the rest of you, you probably think of exams less as opportunities to learn what you don’t know and more as an anxiety-inducing challenges.
As I write this, I am preparing to be examined on the Presbytery floor, and I am reminded that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Human examinations can be stressful because we examine that which can be seen, but our God in heaven examines the depths of who we are and what lies within us.
On the one hand that is very encouraging. God knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. God’s examination is exhaustive and perfect. On the other hand, that is terrifying because “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick.” But if I can encourage you today, let it be this:
When examined by people, they may approve or disapprove of you based on their perception of who you are. Don’t let a person’s opinion of you determine your sense of self-worth and value. But know that God examines you, and he knows your every thought, desire, and deed no matter how selfish and sinful or well-intentioned and honorable. If there were a scale to judge us in that examination by God, we would all fail the exam (sorry for the bad news), but God also gave us His Son in Jesus Christ to take this examination of life in our place (that’s the good news!). When examined, there is only one question that truly matters: Do you want to receive the grade you earned or do you want the grade Jesus has earned?
Pride tells us that we should impress God by the fruit of our deeds, but humility reminds us that all our fruit is rotten and inedible. Choose to place your confidence in Jesus today and everyday, and hear the words of John, “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:28-29).
Exams aren’t fun, but they don’t need to induce any anxiety or fear in us because we stand in Christ’s righteousness!
United in Christ,
Rev. Joshua Fried
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