What is discernment, how do we get it and why do we want it?
Let's start with the definition:
dis·cern·ment
[dih-surn-muh
nt, -zurn-]
noun
1.
2.
Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discernment>
That was helpful wasn't it? So what is discerning?
dis·cern
[dih-surn, -zurn]
verb (used with object)
1.
to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend: They discerned a sail on the horizon.
2.
to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.
Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discern>
So essentially discernment helps us guard against being led astray. It helps us distinguish truth from lies. Fact from fiction. Right from wrong. Let me give you and example from my reading today in Revelation.
------------------------
Revelation 13:1-3(NKJV)
1Then £I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having £seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
2Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
Revelation 13:11-14(NKJV)
11Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
12And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14And he deceives £those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
------------------------
Scripture tells us that in the end times there will be someone (the beast, the antichrist) who will be raised from the dead. Many people will follow this person because of this "miracle". Then there will be a second person who will be promoting the first. He will be able to perform great signs.
It's pretty easy to see how someone with no discernment could easily be led astray by the two people described in Revelation. For the casual observer it would probably seem perfectly logical that these two people are "special", etc. They will be led astray because they don't have a basis from which to discern good from evil in this situation.
But those of us that have studied the Word will be able to discern the situation for what it really is! We will be able to recognize that these two are not really from God and therefore we won't be lead astray or fooled.
How do we get discernment? There are many ways that we build our knowledge on which our discernment rests. Our life experience, our reading, our schooling. But the single most important place from which to draw our discernment in my opinion is God's word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God's word is full of wisdom and knowledge that can help guide us not only in extreme times like described in Revelation, but in our daily lives as we face all the normal challenges that humans face. Try being in the Word daily and see how your discernment grows!
Ive always found it somewhat difficult to figure out what God wants us to learn from many parts of Revelation. This entry really made me see something that I never had. I usually just read these verses and think wow, God has an imagination and that's about all I seem to get out of it. Thanks for helping me see it in a new way.
ReplyDelete