"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." ~David
Being a believer in Jesus for a long time, I have to remind myself that I can fall into the traps that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees fell into. Every once in awhile I go down the list of "woes-to" that Jesus put forth and search my heart to see if there is any snares I've wander into. I pray the same prayer that David did and then wait and watch for the Holy Spirit to guide me.
I ask myself if I practice what I preach? What do I preach? Good news? Bad news? Do I burden others with my expectation of how they should be but don't lift a finger to help them? What is my motive for doing good things? Is it to be seen by people to get titles of influence?
It's so easy for me to want to be the ruling influence and not the inspired. Do I waylay honest Jesus seekers or go out of my way to gain "Christian" cohorts? Do I value material things above spiritual? Do I neglect the more important matters of the law- justice, mercy and faithfulness? Am I neglecting the giving of tithes?
I'm grateful that God leads me in the everlasting way. The rod of the Shepherd is comforting to me. Sometimes, his sharp reproof is all it takes to cause me to avoid a trap. Other times, it requires woes to pull me out. I'm grateful for those too because it means that my God is watching over me and he will forgive me, cleanse me, and lead me if I allow him to. He loves me enough to do that!
"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."
