Reprobates

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Here are the biblical usages of the word adokimos.

Not standing the test, not approved; properly used of metals and coins

That which does not prove itself such as it ought; unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate

Another word for reprobate might be counterfeit. This idea comes from the issue of money. The issuing authority stamps the coin in such a way as to allow any who use the coin to trust that coin is backed 100% by its maker.

The testing of a coin is done by putting it into use. The testing of your faith is by putting it into use. It is only by putting your faith into use that you will be found faithful. Now comes the hard part, and this by no means says anything about the measure of your faith.

Not all coins are accepted by all vendors. It is no different than dropping a quarter into a vending machine and having the coin fall to the return tray. There is nothing wrong with the coin, it just wasn’t accepted by that machine.

Go to another machine.

Do not give up on your faith because of rejection. Rejection does not prove the value of your faith.

Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

Rejection did not stop Jesus nor should it stop you. If Christ be in you, He will prove Himself to you. Do not let the world define your faith. That gift of God is back 100% by its maker.

No Way

Isaiah 25:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

No way does this apply to me. How about you? Does this apply to you? For those who are in Christ I suspect you would agree with me, no way!

Let us look at it from a worldly perspective. They say exactly the same thing about us.  They tell us we are cast under a spell of delusion. We are delusional. We refuse to accept the truth. We are the ones hiding from reality.

So what is the difference between us and them?

Those on the path to destruction are being told, you’re good, keep it up, this is so satisfying. Every path gets you there.

We who know Christ are told you messed up there. You should know better. Do it again until you get it right. Stop it. Don’t go there. Here let me show you a better way.

He who is Truth doesn’t sugarcoat it. We are only encourages when we do right. The rest of the time we are trained up in the Way we should go. Training means discipline, the root word for discipleship.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Few find it. Being in the majority does not make you right. That is a lie they want you to believe.

Daily Christian Devotionals