Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.
One of the greatest gifts that God can bestow upon His people is that of discernment. It’s very rare in today’s world because it involves the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend that which is usually obscure. We are so used to being visually and audibly stimulated by our communication and media technologies that we have forgotten how to be discerning.I believe this is why we have so many people who are faith seekers rather than committed believers. They have lost the ability to discern God’s ways and cast aside His words. They want to be different instead of holy; they want God to fit in with their beliefs instead of allowing their lives to be shaped by His will. Instead of discerning what the Holy Spirit wants for the world, they want their desires to be met, fed, and upheld.
So the challenges for all of us today are these: are we willing to listen to God and learn what He wants for the Church in the world? Are we ready to receive the true gift of discernment and get our guidance from His Word?
Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we foolishly cast aside Your words and ways because we are prejudiced towards our own understanding. Teach us again the holy truths that You have given to us across the centuries and contained in the sacred scriptures. Keep us from false hopes and biased beliefs that will set us against Your Holy Spirit. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question about it, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is one of John’s latest 2011 Holy Week drawings. It’s a worship bulletin cover for a Tenebrae Service. He calls it “Maundy Grail.” You can view a larger version at the following link:
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