Living on Probation: The Season of Testing (Part 3)

Living on Probation: The Season of Testing (Part 3)

Before we continue, let us briefly recall the journey so far. In Part 1, we introduced the spiritual scale of the mind—a line stretching between proving and reprobation—and how every believer is called to discern and demonstrate the will of God. In Part 2, we examined the Greek roots of dokimazō (prove) and adokimos (reprobate), revealing how Paul’s language frames a divine test of the mind. Now, we turn to the space in between: the season of probation, where proving must take place and where the outcome is still being shaped.

Understanding Probation as a Season of Grace

Probation, in its biblical sense, is not a sentence of punishment but a season of opportunity. It is the time in which a person is given the chance to respond to truth, to walk in obedience, and to be found faithful. It is the state of being tested—not yet approved, not yet rejected. It is the tension of grace and responsibility. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines probation as “the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character and being qualified for a happier state.” This definition aligns beautifully with Scripture, which consistently presents life as a proving ground for the soul.

Though the word “probation” is not explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is woven throughout its pages. From Eden to the wilderness, from parables to epistles, God has always given His people time to choose, to yield, and to be tested.

Walking the Line Between Proving and Reprobation (Part 1)

Walking the Line Between Proving and Reprobation (Part 1)

Introduction to the Series

Many believers know they are called to follow God’s will—but few realize that Scripture presents this calling on a scale, a line of spiritual measure that runs between two vastly different minds: one that proves what is good and acceptable in God’s eyes, and one that becomes reprobate, rejected after failing the test. This article begins a crucial series exploring this forgotten scale of the mind, rooted in Paul’s epistles and illuminated through careful word study and real-life application.

Over the next few parts, we’ll uncover what it means to prove the will of God, how to recognize the drift toward spiritual disqualification, and how to realign the mind through intentional renewal. You’ll be equipped with the biblical insight and encouragement needed to stay sharp, faithful, and approved—not just in knowledge, but in daily walk and worship.