Why are we worrying? The assessment is by colleagues in the same line of work, against clear standards on a date we have known for months, but there was still a frenzy of preparation.

Is our Christian life like that? Are we being reviewed by other people against a set of standards every Sunday?

Do we miss church? Have we been to enough meetings and house groups? Do we know the most obscure hymns and Bible passages?

Do we make sure we never get too enthusiastic about worship? (Special allowance for members of 'That sort of Church' provided they don't do it too often!). Above all, are we respectable?

However, it is not our friends and neighbours we should impress but God and we can never tell when his assessment will come. We must be ready!

How do we know what standards will be used to judge us?

Some are written in scripture.

The prophet Micah says 'And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, To love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.'

The apostle Paul writes 'Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances.'

Even better, as Christians, we have Jesus as our example. God on Earth as a man lived, died and rose again, for us. If our life is based always on the question 'What would Jesus do?' we are ready for any test.

By Paul Goulden, member of the Dewsbury Methodist Church – on behalf of Churches Together in Dewsbury.