Understanding Discernment.

True discernment is impossible without divine power. We need the true Discerner—the Holy Spirit—to lead us into all truth (John 16:13).

We cannot fully understand what God is saying to us in His Word without the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. “The thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:11,

We have received . . . the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

1 Corinthians 2:12-15

Discernment ultimately depends on the Holy Spirit. As we are filled with and controlled by the Spirit of God, He makes us discerning. He leads us into all truth by granting us hunger for God’s Word and the ability to discern its true meaning—something the “natural human” is incapable of doing. 

The illumination of Scripture through the indwelling Holy Spirit is the fundamental necessity of all discernment. And true discernment requires diligent study of God’s Word and prayer. Every other tool of discernment is contingent on this reality. No one can be truly discerning apart from mastery of the Word of God and prayer. All the desire in the world cannot make you discerning if you don’t study Scripture and pray for discernment. Obedience alone will not suffice. Good role models won’t do it either. If you really want to be discerning, you must diligently study the Word of God and have a consistent prayer life.

And God’s Word is where you will learn the principles for discernment. It is there you will learn the truth. Only there can you follow the path of spiritual maturity.

How? “Be diligent.” Being diligent pictures a worker giving maximum effort in his or her work. It describes someone driven by a commitment to excellence—“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God.” The Greek phrase literally speaks of standing alongside God as a co-laborer worthy of identifying with Him.

So the encouragement today is that we will be people of the Word and people who pray. We want the indwelling of the Spirit of God to guide our daily steps. May you discover a daily habit of being in God’s Word and creating space to pray. Start today so that you will effect tomorrow and the days that lie ahead. Blessings on your journey.

Buried Treasure

The 1985 movie, The Goonies, was incredibly fun, adventurous, and well worth the money spent on the movie ticket. It’s a story about some kids who find a map to buried pirate treasure in Oregon. The treasure is guarded by one-eyed Willy, the captain of the pirate ship. The kids need to find the treasure to pay off the foreclosure on their house so they stop at nothing to find it. Everything they do indicates where their treasure is located…on that pirate ship and in their home.

You’ve had moments when your heart was set on something. Maybe it was that first date with that girl or guy you just couldn’t stop thinking about. Or maybe it was the certain college you had to attend to get the degree that would launch your heart-felt career.

Jesus talks about our treasure as well in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. He says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth…Store your treasures in heaven. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be as well.”

Jesus tells us truth about what we already know deep down. But if you’re a disciple of Jesus, it asks us to truly consider what we are pursing. Like the goonies who left everything to find the treasure, are you willing to give up everything, sacrifice everything, let go of everything in order to discover the treasure that Jesus wants to give you?

The write of Ecclesiastes reminds us in chapter 3, everything is meaningless here on earth. So if that’s true, and I believe it is, it calls us to set our mind on things above. It calls us to let go of any earthly treasure we are pursing to embrace the eternal treasure that Jesus calls us to hold on to. In the end, we’ll discover what Jesus offers is more valuable than any treasure we considered on earth. Blessings on your journey.