1 Corinthians 11:31-32

"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."
1 Corinthians 11:31-32


This is interesting.  I wonder what it means to judge ourselves.  Does it mean just to look closely at our desires and actions and decide whether they are good or bad, right or wrong?  It could mean more than that... not only that scrutiny, but then repenting of our misdeeds, and improving our lives... so that our self-judgement takes us forward, bringing us closer to our ideal selves. :)  Probably a very good idea.  Proceeding to the next verse, I think it is cool that, even when God does need to judge us (presumably because we aren't regulating ourselves well enough), he does it so that we can escape condemnation.  He doesn't want us to have to suffer the consequences of an unthinking life... an unjudged life. :)  So, he judges for us, and helps us to see where we have problems, and where we need to improve.  God isn't standing up there waiting for us to fail... he only wants us to learn... and when we fail to teach ourselves from our own mistakes, he is there to assist. :)