Discernment, the Bible repeatedly says that discernment is an important gift that Christians should desire. To discern means to understand something correctly. Spiritual discernment is the ability to see good from evil, even if that evil is cloaked like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is the ability to see people and deeds as God sees them.
We don't just become Christians and the next day have discernment. Discernment requires prayer and study. The more we understand God's word and the more we pray and ask for discernment the better we will have the ability to discern.
In 2 Peter we are strongly warned against false teachers and false prophets. In 2 Peter 2:3(A) Peter tells us this, "By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;". The thing that drives these false teachers and prophets is greed. Greed for money and greed for power. Discerning teachers is critical so we are not lured away by their false teachings.
In Hebrews 5: 12-14 we are told to desire "solid food" not "milk". A mature Christian should be ready to understand and teach at a deeper level (solid food) than one who has just come to know the Lord (milk). The mature Christian has used their senses to understand and "read" good and evil.
In 2 Timothy 2:15 he says:
" Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Diligence requires work, we are called unashamed workers, we are people who study and act rightly because of our efforts to present ourselves approved. We are workers for the Lord who above all seek His approval. People who can rightly divide the word of truth can be discerning people. They can be people who hear the word of God and understand it.
James 3: 13-18 helps us to discern good from evil works.
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
In this passage we are told some important things. If we have wisdom then
Our works should be done with wise meekness.
Our wisdom should be pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, merciful, and fruitful.
Our wisdom should not show favoritism or be hypocritical.
We should sow peace by making peace which, in turn, yields righteousness.
But if we are not wise and understanding then
Our works will be done out of a place of envy, self-seeking, boastfulness, even lying against truth. If this is our motivation then it comes from an earthly, demonic force that causes confusion and evil.
The gift of wisdom helps us to discern our own motivation and the motivations of others.
In Proverbs 2: 3-6 Solomon tells us that if we seek discernment whole heartedly then we will
" ...understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding;"
So if we want discernment and seek after it diligently the Lord will give it to us. What is our goal? Are we seeking to know and understand our Lord better so as to be approved by Him? Or do we follow after teachers with, as Paul says, "itching ears", who tell us things we like to hear more than the truth?
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4: 3-4
We need to hold to sound Biblical teachings and avoid pointless bickering over small, less important details. We do this by being able to discern. That discernment will come as we study and pray and are motivated by our desire to please our Heavenly Father in all things.
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