One definition of the little idiom, “They got a bad rap,” simply means to receive undeserved criticism. Taken in this setting, I believe many of God’s dear people, trying to live for Him, have given themselves a bad rap. That is, they bring unjustified charges against themselves.
As undesirable as we may seem to ourselves, God sees something we don’t. Something more than skin-deep. He sees past the surface, the cosmetic, if you please. He goes bone-deep, right through the bone to the marrow, to our inner sanctuary where the soul dwells.
We see outer circumstances, while He sees our inner faith. Read the life of Abraham, how at times he “staggered” like a drunken man. But God says of him in the New Testament, “He staggered not at the promise of God.” And what of the patience of Job, James speaks of? Have you read his life?
As I have said so often, you can have a strong faith with a weak flesh. Our Precious Savior knew this. He told His followers, “The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” While we and others are looking on the “outward appearance,” God, all the time is, “looking on the heart.”
Don’t give yourself such a bad rap concerning your faith; after all you’re still in the game, aren’t you?
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