Developing a Spirit of Discernment
"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."1
No matter how long a person has known the Lord Jesus Christ, every faith experience goes through ups and downs related to doubt, confidence, discouragement, joy, and more. Today's passage deals with one of those areas of fluctuation: our ability to discern.
Comparing discernment to a baby's diet, the writer of Hebrews observed that Christians of the day lacked spiritual wisdom and needed help understanding what was being communicated to them. However, he went on to say that they could mature; They only needed to "exercise their senses in the discernment of good and evil".
If you are experiencing clouded judgment right now, you can lean on two sources for guidance: God's Word and God's Spirit. When we listen to His Spirit and read the Holy Scriptures regularly, we gradually train our senses to distinguish between good and evil. In whatever situation we face, we have a Helper whose task is to guide us into all truth (John 14:26, 16:13).
God has given all believers access to His wisdom. So, if you need guidance today, don't hesitate to ask for it. He wants to help you.
Suggested Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, today I want to thank You for giving us direct access to You. Thank You that Your wisdom is available to us through Your Word. Thank you that we can gain divine discernment by leaning on Your Word and the Holy Spirit. Thank you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
1. Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.