Discernment

What does it mean for us to be discerning in these days? How do we exercise the gift of discernment? This is something that I've always struggled with, especially in times of major transition.

In speaking about discretion, Maggie Ross talks about the relationship between discernment and discretion. These two words come from the same root in antiquity, discretio, and should be considered inseparable. They are two sides of the same coin: discerning the truth and then acting appropriately according to that knowledge. Without discernment we cannot have discretion, that is to say, without knowledge of the truth we are doomed to live and act falsely.

Maybe that is why Paul prayed for the Philippian church in this way, "9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." (Phil. 1:9-11)

Discernment comes out of a living, breathing relationship with the Truth. It is only then that we can live according to the truth...that we are able to walk in the light. Our perception of the Truth must continue to deepen and grow. My fear is that in the busy-ness of our culture, we don't regularly open up appropriate time and space to encounter the Truth in substantial ways, rendering us an undiscerning and unwise people which is illuminated by our broken actions.

We need discernment and wisdom in these days. Apart from a relational knowledge of God, it's like we're hiking across rough terrain on a pitch black night. May the light of the Truth break forth in our lives so that we might find the right path, the one to Golgotha. If you're struggling with discernment in these days, I would encourage you to open up time and space to encounter the Spirit of Truth, which will lead you into all Truth as it is in Jesus - for He is the way to true life. Until next time - Blessings in Christ ~ RLS