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DISCERN
The word ‘discern’, used in the New Testament, carries the meaning 'to distinguish, to perceive, or to examine'. Discernment is the ability to distinguish between good and evil or determine something properly through godly wisdom. There are certain things that are plain good or evil. We know that murder is wrong, as also stealing, or adultery, for that matter. But the challenge in our world today is to discern those things that are inherently evil but masquerade as being good. And more so if it comes from a Christian source that misrepresents God or misinterprets His Word.
The disciple John has this to say, talking about discerning false spirits, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.... They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them….we are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us” (1 John 4:1-6). It says, the world listens to them, but we are 'from God' and we 'know God'. Being fully devoted to God and knowing Him through the study of scriptures is the key to discernment.
Discernment is not just limited to identifying false teaching. A U.S. survey a few years ago on the top writers, journalists and others arts & media personnel suggests that a lot of them think homosexuality, adultery or extramarital affairs are "ok". And these are the writers from whom we get the best-selling novels and the blockbuster movies! May be not all of those are explicitly immoral. But they are slowly dulling the consciences of our young people with new levels of moral degradation while making it 'culturally acceptable'. Therein lies the challenge of discerning what we are watching and what we are reading. It also applies to other areas of our life. We can discern that a job offer is not from God if it involves compromising biblical principles or even our godly family habits.
Let us take time to root ourselves in the scriptures to discern good and evil.
The CHALLENGE to Change:
Make a commitment to study and apply in your life God’s word and be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit by constant obedience, so you may discern right from wrong, sound doctrine from false, good from evil, recognizing unseen spiritual battles and hearing God’s voice more clearly.
The word ‘discern’, used in the New Testament, carries the meaning 'to distinguish, to perceive, or to examine'. Discernment is the ability to distinguish between good and evil or determine something properly through godly wisdom. There are certain things that are plain good or evil. We know that murder is wrong, as also stealing, or adultery, for that matter. But the challenge in our world today is to discern those things that are inherently evil but masquerade as being good. And more so if it comes from a Christian source that misrepresents God or misinterprets His Word.
The disciple John has this to say, talking about discerning false spirits, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.... They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them….we are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us” (1 John 4:1-6). It says, the world listens to them, but we are 'from God' and we 'know God'. Being fully devoted to God and knowing Him through the study of scriptures is the key to discernment.
Discernment is not just limited to identifying false teaching. A U.S. survey a few years ago on the top writers, journalists and others arts & media personnel suggests that a lot of them think homosexuality, adultery or extramarital affairs are "ok". And these are the writers from whom we get the best-selling novels and the blockbuster movies! May be not all of those are explicitly immoral. But they are slowly dulling the consciences of our young people with new levels of moral degradation while making it 'culturally acceptable'. Therein lies the challenge of discerning what we are watching and what we are reading. It also applies to other areas of our life. We can discern that a job offer is not from God if it involves compromising biblical principles or even our godly family habits.
Let us take time to root ourselves in the scriptures to discern good and evil.
The CHALLENGE to Change:
Make a commitment to study and apply in your life God’s word and be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit by constant obedience, so you may discern right from wrong, sound doctrine from false, good from evil, recognizing unseen spiritual battles and hearing God’s voice more clearly.
About this Plan
We keep talking about change, how much this world needs it. True change is not brought about by the formation of new laws, rather by the transformation of each one’s life. You will find in this Plan a reminder for each day of an area we need to change in and grow, prompting us into Christ likeness and becoming the change this world needs to see and emulate. So…..Got Change?
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We would like to thank New Life AG Church, Chennai for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.nlag.in or Facebook.com/nlagchennai
