Discerning hearts. . . .

God amazes me. I’ve read this verse at least a dozen times without much thought, but yesterday could not get it out of my mind:

Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? (Job 6:26)

Today’s thoughts from Piper’s book are so important. He says, “How quickly we are given to defending God—or sometimes the truth—from words that are for the wind alone. There are enough words, premeditated and studied, that need our rebuttal, but not every despairing  heresy blurted out in the hour of agony needs to be answered. If we had discernment, we could tell the difference between the words with roots and the words blowing in the wind.”

He goes on to explain that some words have deep-rooted error and deep evil, but not all words get their color from a black heart. Some are colored mainly by pain and despair that happens when the trials of life overshadow the grace we know and believe. This means that what I hear (or even say myself) is not from the deepest truth that is known and believed. As Piper says, these words are “real but temporary like a passing infection, but not the true heart of those who know God.”

These thoughts prompted by Job’s words tell me the importance of discernment. If another Christian speaks against me, or God, or the truth, I need to discern if they are “from the soul or from the sore.” If they are words for the wind, then a reproof is even more hurtful. I should wait in silence and if God’s Spirit requires a response, it will be to restore the soul, not throw salt in the wound. This is the way of speaking truth in love…

…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:12–16)

The goal is not to be ‘correct’ but to build up the faith of any who are tossed about by deceitful words or ideas that put them in panic mode.

PRAY: This reminds why the Word of God often calls His people sheep. These animals are easily frightened and need the calm voice of their shepherd to settle them. I may panic if events appear to be Satan winning when I know very well that he has already been defeated. No wonder You sent the Spirit to remind Your people of all that You promised and have secured for us — we so easily forget what we are in capable hands and that You use all things, including trials and the occasional rebuke to graciously transform us into Your image.