Let's talk about discernment. Discernment could be said to be the act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment. Discernment according to Merriam-Webster is "the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure." But I want you to know that is far more than either of these definitions. It is true that some people are better at discerning than others. They may even be gifted in discernment but the fact that some are gifted does not let the rest of us off the hook. We are all called to discern the difference between good and evil as it says in Hebrews: "About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:11-14 (ESV) The problem for many of us is that we have become hard of hearing! Our powers of discernment haven't been trained by constant practice and so we cannot (many times) distinguish between good and evil. And as a result we make poor decisions, or decisions based on our own desires instead of God's. We need to move away from only wanting milk and on to solid food, to maturity, so that we will be skilled in the Word of righteousness.
In discerning, there are a few things to keep in mind. The Holy Spirit has been given for our benefit. Allow Him to work in your life, to lead you and guide you in all things. He is our helper, our comforter, our counselor as it says in John 14:16-20, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." (NIV) It also says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil." (The Message)
With the Holy Spirit as our guide, there are four other concepts that need to be considered a we seek to discern good from evil. The first is that our discernment must be Christ centered. "What I want to talk about now is the various ways God's Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. Remember how you were when you didn't know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It's different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say "Jesus be damned!" Nor would anyone be inclined to say "Jesus is Master!" without the insight of the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 (The Message)
The second thing to keep in mind in our discernment is that it should always be in accordance with scripture and should never lead us away from God's Word. If it does, then it is not of God. "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." Isaiah 8"19-29 (NIV)
Our discernment should promote unity and the building up of the body of Christ. "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, who is over all and through all and in all one God and Father of all,." Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV) Our motives are of the utmost importance. We need to make sure that our motivation is for edification and correction not pride or self-righteousness.
And lastly, our seeking to discern should always be governed by love. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV) The ability to discern is available to all who know the Lord. It is a muscle that must be exercised, however, and the more we use it the stronger it will become.
"Be good to your servant, God; be as good as your Word. Train me in good common sense; I'm thoroughly committed to living your way. Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I'm in step with your Word. You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness. The godless spread lies about me, but I focus my attention on what you are saying; They're bland as a bucket of lard, while I dance to the tune of your revelation. My troubles turned out all for the best— they forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine." Psalm 119-65-72 (The Message)
"My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." Proverbs 3:21-16 (NIV)
"Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer, searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5 (The Message)
Dear Lord, Thank you for Your gift of discernment to us. Teach us to know You and Your word so well that our ability to discern is well exercised and useful on a daily basis, not only for ourselves but also for other believers around us. Help us to do everything in love, to build up Your church, to always be Christ centered, and according to Your word.
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