ROMANS 1:28

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper,”

I like that phrase in today’s verse, “did not see fit.” Sometimes I just don’t see fit to do certain things. Maybe I have no interest in it, like crocheting or swimming with sharks (yikes). Maybe I don’t have extra time so I “don’t see fit” to take on an extra task at the moment. As I pondered this verse, however, I discovered that the Greek word for this phrase has a much heavier meaning.

Paul uses the Greek verb dokimazo, which according to HELPS Word studies means “(to approve by testing)” and “is done to demonstrate what is good, i.e. passes the necessary test. Dokimázō does not focus on disproving something (i.e. to show it is bad).” That changes the whole meaning of the verse, doesn’t it? It was not that these individuals Paul has been discussing didn’t get around to acknowledging God. They did not allow God to prove His goodness to them.

APPLICATION

Dokimázō is used in Romans 12:2 which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” I just love that verse. We show the goodness of God in His will. That’s not hard if we just submit to Him.

Over in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul uses the word again. “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.” Look at that again. God approves us and thereby gives us His gospel to share with others. What a blessing and responsibility.

We should be about showing the goodness of God every day. We should live out that Greek word used here, dokimázō. That should be our goal every day. Proving the goodness of God isn’t hard. Just show people what God has done in your life. Boy, I could talk for ages about that. Even through the hard times, God’s goodness shone through. Prove God good today!

God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me!

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