TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2017.
DISCERNMENT
DEFINITION:
The process or ability to determine between truth and error, right and wrong; acuteness of judgment and understanding.
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.
There is a passage in the book of Matthew that we feel is relevant for today’s word, as is all the scripture. In Matthew 16, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and were testing Him. They asked Him to show them a sign from heaven that would prove He was the Messiah.
Jesus answered them with a weather illustration. He reminded them that they say that when the sky is red in the evening the weather will be fair. But when the sky is red in the morning it would be a storm day.
As primitive as their method of predicting the weather their ability to discern Spiritual matters was worse. Being Pharisees and Sadducees they knew the scripture concerning the promised Messiah and they were looking for His coming. But here they were talking to Jesus face to face and they did not discern that He was their Messiah.
They had the Messiah in their presence and refused to acknowledge Him. They were naïve and lacked sense in their ability to discern what was happening among them. They had no ability to determine between truth and error.
God’s Word provides God’s standard of discernment for every issue in life. In order to live a life pleasing to God we must be discerning. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to “test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil”. What agrees with God’s Word is good and right and what does not agree with His Word is evil and bad.
The discerning 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. Believers must be discerning in their choice of associates.
There is great peer pressure on believers to become like the world and fit into the world’s society and accept their sinful ways and be “politically correct.” Certainly, we are all in the world but we are not part of this world, as we are told in John 17:16.
We are all exposed to false teachers and anti-God situations in our schools, jobs, and neighborhoods. We need to be careful and be discerning so that being exposed to those situations in real life does not lead to our embracing ungodly and evil philosophies and becoming part of the world.
All of us would avoid a lot of pitfalls and mature faster in our Christian faith if we did all we could to separate ourselves from 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 walk in the ways of the wicked.
Do not let the 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.
Do not become comfortable 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 the opinions of the world, is our best teacher. Make sure you use godly discernment every day in your decision making and do not walk, stand or sit in the counsel of the ungodly.
Discerning believers should only sit in the counsel of Christ honoring Bible believing churches.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Joshua 1:6.
Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
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 memory, rule my heart and guide my life.
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