It is amazing to watch the process of learning through which a child goes. Often, children are too young to discern between that which is good and that which is bad. They will pick up dirt and eat it. They will play in the toilet. They will run out into the street without looking twice. The stove may be hot and the young child will walk up and think nothing of touching the hot stove or of eating something dirty off of the floor or of walking through a fire ant mound. A child also has difficulty choosing the good instead of the best. A child would rather eat candy than vegetables. They would rather play than go to bed. What is the problem the child has that causes him to do these things? It is a lack of discernment. Children are too young to know how to totally discern between what is good and bad and what is good and best.
Imagine watching an adult eat dirt or play in the toilet or eat food off of the floor or purposely play in an anthill or eat all candy and refuse to eat vegetables. It is understandable and excusable when it is a child that does these things that are of bad discernment, but it is not understandable and excusable for an adult. Why? An adult should be sensitive enough to know how to discern better than that. A true sign of maturity is good discernment. Tragically, there is a lack of discernment among God’s people. We do not seem to have the maturity to discern between good and bad or, oftentimes, between good and best. Why is there such a problem among God’s people in this matter of spiritual discernment?
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS A LACK OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
Our problem is that we are still carnal. A mature Christian should have much more spiritual discernment than we do. Our problem is that we are so into the things of the world that we are not into the things of God. There has to be sacrifice made to grow. We need to give up things that keep us from growing and take on the things that make us grow, if we want to grow. Fewer stimuli for growth will not produce more growth. Far too many Christians are not getting enough nutrients and nutrition each week to continue to grow, and that is why we lack spiritual discernment. Sometimes, new Christians do not grow because they copy older Christians. They come into the church and imitate Christians who have been around for a long time and mistake longevity for maturity.
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS A LACK OF PROPER PATTERN.
True spiritual discernment measures everything by Christ. Our goal is to be in His image. The question ought always to be, “Is this what Christ would do?” Oftentimes, we will not wear certain clashing types of clothing because it is unacceptable to society. In fact, what we do not wear is based more upon what is not acceptable to society and what we do wear is based upon what is acceptable. Why do we not think about that when it comes to spiritual things? Is this acceptable to God? Is it that we are more concerned about what people think than what God thinks? If it is unacceptable to Christ, that ought to be enough to make us change our behavior. Unfortunately, too many Christians are conformed rather than transformed.
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS A FLESH-ORIENTED PERSPECTIVE.
Christians today have become dangerously worldly and unspiritual. (I Timothy 4:7-8) We have far too much fleshly influence.
Far too much of our decision-making is based upon fleshly things. We choose colleges, jobs, churches, friends, and even dates based upon the flesh rather than based upon spiritual things. That is exactly what happened to Lot. He made a physical decision, and lack of discernment cost him his family.
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS A LACK OF REAL SKILL IN GOD’S WORD.
This is a sad thing, but so few of us have become skilled enough in God’s Word to use It to make decisions. That is sad, but it is also ridiculous. God’s people ought to know God’s Word well enough to seek it in order to find the right decisions in their lives. Jewish parents not only taught their children the principles of God’s Word but also when and how to apply those principles. Our problem is that we hear the Bible taught, but we do not learn how to apply It and when to apply It. God’s Word was given to us to teach us how to live. Yet, most of us never go to the textbook to figure out how to make It work in our lives.
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS THAT OUR SENSES ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE FLESH RATHER THAN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
God gave us our senses to discern or to choose, not to judge. This is sad. God’s people often have the ability to judge things but not to discern things. We judge people rather than discern actions in our own lives. Unfortunately, we must learn that which appeals the most to our flesh will usually win until we consciously decide to let the Holy Spirit guide us.
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS OUR LACK OF WISDOM.
James 1:5 says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him. Far too few Christians seek the Lord for wisdom to be discerning. Many parents do not go to God for wisdom to discern what is right for their children. No wonder our children oftentimes break our hearts.
THE LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT SHOWS THE FAILURE OF OUR MINISTRIES IN OUR HOMES.
The word use in our memory verse means habit. Our senses are to be exercised to the point that discernment becomes a habit. That is exactly what we do in school. We drill young people to the point that they habitually know the right answers to the questions. How sad that we drill our kids with everything except the sensible decisions that they need to make.
What kind of discernment do we have? This may be one of the most difficult, but most important, characteristics to learn. Discernment is lacking in so many of God’s people today. They lack the ability to choose between good and evil, and often, more importantly, the discernment to choose between good and best. Discernment is needed. God’s people must learn not to allow their flesh to guide them but to be led by the Holy Spirit of God, Who will give us good discernment so that we will know what is right and what is best.
Pastor Neal, through his preaching and his counseling, displays the compassionate heart of a pastor, follows the true leading of the Holy Spirit, and expresses a fervent desire to see lost souls come to know Christ. It is his ultimate desire to see the greater Jacksonville area reached for the cause of Christ and for revival to come to Northeast Florida.
