Day 91

We continue looking at 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?" Having previously looked at examination and faith in this verse, we now turn our attention to the phrase "prove your own selves." Albert Barnes NT Commentary says of this phrase: "This word, prove, refers to assaying or trying metals by the powerful action of heat; and the idea here is, that they should make the most thorough trial of their religion, to see whether it would stand the test.... The best way to prove our piety is to subject it to actual trial in the various duties and responsibilities of life. A man who wishes to prove an axe, to see whether it is good or not, does not sit down and look at it, or read all the treatises which he can find on axe-making, and on the properties of iron and steel, valuable as such information would be; but he shoulders his axe, and goes into the woods, and puts it to the trial there."

The method of proving is in the working of your faith. We do not prove our faith by sitting around and thinking about it; we prove our faith by putting it to the test. Do you see how this moves the examination from a personal introspection to an outward working? You prove your faith by what you do with it. This requires you to get involved with life around you.

In a courtroom evidence is presented to prove some point in the case. In your life, what you do is evidence of something. What is the something that you are proving by the presentation of your evidence. Paul wants us to prove our faith. Today be a good attorney and prove that Jesus Christ has transformed you by walking in His love to all you encounter. Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself; then like in the courtroom, you rest your case. This is not salvation by works; it is a salvation that works!