Category Archives: Testing

Bible, God's Will, Goodness, Proven, Scripture, Testing

DIDN’T SEE FIT

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!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Character, Proven, Scripture, Testing, Trials, Tribulations

PROVEN CHARACTER

PHILIPPIANS 2:22

“But you know of his proven character, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.”

I like compliments. Don’t you? A sincere compliment is always appreciated. They make you feel better about yourself. Knowing someone has recognized you in that way gives you a sense of confidence. When I receive compliments, I try to be quick to give all the glory to the Lord. I know I am nothing without Him in my life, and He deserves all the credit.

Paul is bragging on Timothy here in today’s verse. He uses a word that is used eight times in the New Testament, seven by him. The word is dokime which the Topical Lexicon describes this way. “The concept of dokime is integral to understanding the Christian journey, as it illustrates the process by which believers are refined and their faith is authenticated through trials. It serves as a reminder that challenges are not merely obstacles but opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God.” Obviously, Timothy had proven his worth to Paul over the years, thus he was entrusted with this journey to Philippi.

APPLICATION

In Romans 5:4 we see dokime used by Paul. Let’s back up to verse 3 to get a better picture of how Paul uses this word. “3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;” In these verses, Paul is describing the process and purpose of tribulations and trials in our life. Going through these builds our character.

Recently, I talked to the mother of someone who is going through a stem cell transplant. I was asked to talk to her by a mutual friend. I basically described my own two experiences of my stem cell transplants and how God used them to grow my faith and hopefully my character. Trials are hard, but we know God tests us to build us. That is what I told this mom to share with her daughter.

In 2 Corinthians 8:2 dokime is translated as “ordeal.” Paul says there, “that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.” Have you gone through an ordeal? Consider it God’s way of making you more like His Son. Amen? Hang in there. Prove faithful, just like Timothy.

Lord, I do not like trials. I had rather avoid them, but You want to use them to make me more like You. For that reason, I will embrace them as they come.

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Attitude, Bible, Blessing, Boasting, Comparison, Examine, Holiness, Influence, Modeling, Scripture, Testing

EXAMINE YOURSELF

 

GALATIANS 6:4

 

“But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.”

 

Do you remember those days in school when your teacher would announce a pop test? I hated that. I was a pretty good student, but I didn’t like those surprise tests. But then she would say when everyone was finished, “Okay, I want each of you to grade your own paper as I call out the answers.” Now you would see how you did on that unexpected test. Only you and the teacher would know the result, unless you shared it with someone else.

 

Paul tells the Galatians to take out that clean sheet of paper and prepare to examine themselves. It did not matter what others thought about them. It only mattered what God thought. They were to measure themselves not against someone else but only Jesus and His expectations of them. Then and only then would they have reason for rejoicing, and even then, only in Him.

 

APPLICATION

 

Proverbs 14:14 says, “A good man shall be satisfied from himself.” A good man (or woman) shall examine himself according to God’s law. When he finds himself in agreement with God, he can rejoice. Albert Barnes says this in regard to this verse. “Here is the true secret of happiness. It consists: (1) In not forming an improper estimate of ourselves; in knowing just what we are, (2) in leading such a life that it may be examined to the core, and (3) in not being dependent on the fickle applause of the world for our comfort.”

 

What is your measure of yourself? How do you measure yourself? Each week in a weekly meeting I am in, we have to measure ourselves in about seven or eight areas. One of those is our walk with God. Another is our family life. These categories give us a snapshot of that particular week. My score changes weekly. I am never the same. Things change every week and how I respond to those things change as well.

 

But there is one area in which I shall never change, in which I can measure myself well. That area is in my personal relationship with Christ. I know it is secure. I know I am sealed for all eternity under the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Nothing will ever change that. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

 

Father, examine me and show me my faults so that I can better represent You to others.

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Bible, God's Will, Modeling, Perfection, Scripture, Strength, Suffering, Testimony, Testing

WHAT ARE YOU SUFFERING FOR?

GALATIANS 3:4

“Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”

Raise your hand if you are suffering right now? That wasn’t very many. Let’s try that again. Just kidding. I can’t really see your hands raised. But if I asked each of you individually that same question, you may respond in the affirmative. Perhaps you are suffering for your faith right now. You may face ridicule and scorn from family or friends. Your employer may harass you because of your Christian stance on issues. If that is your case, then Paul asks you a question today.

As Paul addressed the Galatian believers, he asked them this question we find in today’s verse. Many of them had suffered for turning to Christ. Some of them may have lost everything to follow Jesus. If they had not personally suffered, they probably knew someone who had. Suffering in the first century for Jesus was not an uncommon thing. Is it worth it today?

APPLICATION

In Philippians 1:29, Paul says this about the issue of suffering. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” How about Romans 5:3-4. “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”

There’s a purpose in our sufferings. Recently, I was with someone who is going through a tough physical challenge. I told them that God allows us to go through things in our lives for a couple of reasons. One is to draw us to Himself. He will often use our life experiences to show Himself to us and call us into His family. Secondly, as believers, I believe He uses suffering to refine us and make us more like Jesus.

Paul is reminding the Galatians believers that their suffering was not in vain. God had brought them so far for a purpose. He had proven that He was all they needed. Why go back to the fleshly way of living? Why go back to trying to earn your way to heaven? God was and will always be all we need. He has given us direct access to the throne through His Son, Jesus. Simply rest in Him.

O Lord, You are all I need. I thank You that You consider me worthy of suffering for Your name.

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Bible, God's Will, Purity, Scripture, Testing

REFINED AND TESTED

ZECHARIAH 13:9

“‘And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, “They are My people,” and they will say, “The LORD is my God.”’”

Oh man, this verse hits me right between the eyes. The Lord has certainly turned up the heat on that refining furnace in my life. My two experiences going through stem cell transplants burned off a lot of chaff. You would think I would stay refined, right? I don’t want any more of those fires. But looking back, I am grateful for what He taught me in the furnace.

As we close chapter 9 of Zechariah, he shares one last comment from the Lord about the remnant He will preserve. He will not just rescue them. He will refine them. He will test them. He will push them to be better, to be holy. They will call on Him. They will be His people. He will be their God. Finally! Refining fires draw them closer to Him.

APPLICATION

You are not going to like where we are going today. No one likes this. The Lord is going to test you. Why? To make you more and more like His Son, Jesus. Job recognized this. Look what he said in Job 23:10. “‘But He knows the way I take; when He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold.’” Just think of all he went through. If you have forgotten, reread Job.

And look at 1 Peter 1:6-7. “6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” What a great result!

So, the next time God places you in that crucible of testing, rest in Him. He will never do one thing to harm you. He is always about making you more like Him – holy and pure. It is not normal for us to live pure lives. Our flesh fights against that every day. But God desires nothing else. He wants pure children. Let Him purify you today.

Lord, I submit to the fires of Your will. I want to be holy and pure like You. 

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