Discernment: July 16, 2012

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY JULY 16, 2012.

DISCERNMENT

DEFINITION:

Distinguish by the eye or the intellect; perceive; discriminate; acuteness of judgment and understanding.

SCRIPTURE:

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. Psalm 1:1.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

From the perspective of the individual believer being blessed, as in this verse above, is to have a deep-seated joy and contentment in God. Only those who know God’s redemptive favor through accepting Jesus can experience what it is to be blessed in this way. The believer is not to walk, nor stand, nor sit with the wicked because these associations will ultimately drag a believer into the life of a sinner. Those we associate with have a profound effect on us. It takes discernment on behalf of the believer to choose the right kind of associates.

How many times have you talked to young people who have told you that as they prepare for the future they need to get into the world to experience ungodly situations and ungodly people in order to grow stronger in their spiritual life?

Certainly, we are all in the world but we are not of this world, as we are told in John 17:15. We are all exposed to non-Christian situations in our schools, jobs, and neighborhoods. We need to be careful and be discerning so that being exposed to those situations does not lead to our embracing ungodly philosophies.

All of us would avoid a lot of pitfalls and mature faster in our Christian faith if we did all we could to ignore the world and follow the divine pattern that the Psalmist gives us in Psalm 1:1. Here are several further thoughts that will help you show discernment as you walk your daily walk.

Do not let your decisions you need to make each day be controlled by the “counsel of the ungodly.”   Do not ask advice of those who do not know Jesus. Look to those who are walking with God. This will take spiritual discernment on your part.

You need to avoid feeling any comfort at all being with people who seem to always mock God, His Word, and His role in your life. Mockers are enemies of God and hate His wisdom. Counsel from such sources leads you away from God. It will be based on lies not on truth. Get your knowledge and advice from God’s Word and those that know God and love Him. God and His Word, not experiences from the world, is our best teacher. Make sure you use discernment every day in your decision making and do not walk, stand or sit in the counsel of the ungodly.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 8:18.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

PRAYER:

Give me the discernment in making decisions concerning the people, places and things in my life so that my choices will honor You. May God’s Word fill my mind, rule my heart and guide my life.