“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV) “Each one should test his own actions.” (Galatians 6:4 NIV)

A family friend taught me about his job, a very important one. As a Quality Control Inspector (QCI) he described calibrated tools used to determine the quality of structural steel; calipers, tape measures, thread gauges, pressure gauges, infrared guns, humidity meters, hydrostatic testers. These and many other tools he’s learned to use help his employer produce products that meet established standards and customers’ needs. He was passionate about the importance of following the specs determined by the design engineer and compared the process to following guidelines for Christian living, the Bible. “These tools are important to assure what is being built functions correctly, safely and will be durable. The Christian specification code book is the Bible and if followed sets forth the integrity of our lives.”, he said.

Christians have personal responsibility to be QCIs of their living (Romans 12:1-21, 1 John 4:1-2). Use what my friend called Function Acceptance Test (FAT) and Internal Test Plan (ITP). We have the entire written word of God to study and Bible study tools; Bible concordances, commentaries, dictionaries, expository dictionary of biblical words, historical references, online sites such as www.Crosswalk.com, etc.

Be careful to study and apply scripture correctly. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) Ask: 1) Who is speaking?, 2) To whom is he/she speaking?, 3) Why is he/she speaking (context)?, 4) What does this scripture say about God?, 5) What does this passage say about me (in relation to God and/or others)?, 6) Is there something that needs to change in me?, 7) How do I respond? Use FAT in steps 4 – 7.

TESTED? – TOSS IT!

Use an Internal Test Plan (ITP). An ITP is a process of receiving, inspecting and rejecting materials (e.g. thoughts, words, actions) to be used in production (living). Follow the engineer’s plans (God’s Word). Measurement not up to code? Reject that part, toss it. Paul speaking in Ephesians 4 about living as children of light, verse 31 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Toss it: Colossians 3:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, James 1:21, 1 Peter 2:1.

TESTED? – DO IT!

Study, pray, listen, and exercise your faith. My friend said, “Your eyes have to be able to see, your ears to hear, and your body fit (to use the tools) to do your job.” Our job as Christians is challenging and is doable when we live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-23).

Love God and others. “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’”. (Matthew 22:37 NIV) “This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17 NIV) Have faith, listen and get the job done. “Do not merely listen to the word,…. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)

TESTED? – BELIEVE IT!

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV) Receive the gracious gift of salvation. “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming. That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:8-10 NIV)

Affirm God’s love for you. John 3:16 NIV says; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Roman 5:8 NIV affirms, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Have hope that is alive. As Jeremiah spoke to the Israelites in exile, believe “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) Claim your living hope as Peter said, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3a NIV). Tested? Test it! It’s quality assurance.

© 2014 Linda Pope