One of the downfalls of social media and the internet is that there are a slew of people who merely take things at face value without digging a little deeper into what is being said. This may come as a shock to some, but not everything you see on the internet or Facebook or Twitter is true. Just because someone says it, doesn’t make it true. It doesn’t matter if that person is a famous Hollywood entertainer, a sports icon, a musical virtuoso, or even someone claiming to be a preacher of God. We have to use discernment. The apostle John tells us, Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. (1 John 4:1, ESV)
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the verb ‘discern’ as being able “to come to know or recognize mentally” or “to recognize or identify as separate and distinct.” The usual Christian use of discern and discernment is being able to recognize something as right or wrong, or recognize something as from God or not from God. It is having the wisdom to analyze a situation and then use God-given wisdom to determine what the right course of action is (as God defines what is right). It is recognizing what God would have you do in a certain situation. Through the spiritual disciplines the Christian can grow and mature in their ability to discern. Paul said in his prayer for the Philippian church, And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9-10, ESV)
When we think of discernment we automatically think of making a choice to sin or not to sin—make a choice between right and wrong. While there is definitely that aspect, it can be a little more subtle than that. We might need to discern between better and best. Or we might need to discern between a good thing and a God thing. We need to realize that not everything that comes in our path or falls into our lap or makes itself available in our lives comes from God. Just because a good opportunity comes our way does not mean that God put it there. The devil may put something good in our path if it can be used to distract us from the path that God would have us go. We have this idea that the devil only tempts us to sin, but that is not the case. The devil is the adversary of God, and he is trying to take God’s people off the path of God, but he doesn’t always use sin or evil, sometimes he distracts with good things that aren’t wrong in and of themselves. Just because something good comes into your life doesn’t mean it is of God. That is why discernment is needed. We want what God wants, not what we want. To do otherwise can lead to some heartbreaking consequences. So, no matter what comes into our lives, we need to pray and seek God before just jumping right in. This “good” situation might just be the devil’s carrot on the stick to lead us further from God, not closer to God.
There is no magic formula for discernment. Only having a closer walk with God can truly give us the discernment we need. We can allow Scripture to transform our thinking so we follow God’s ways. As Paul’s ever-famous verse says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, ESV) And we can pray for discernment, as James wrote, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5, ESV) So, my prayer for all of us is that we don’t just rush headlong into anything assuming it’s true or it’s from God, but that we cultivate and use a spirit of discernment in every area of our lives.