The source of discernment…

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (John 7:14–18)

This passage tells me that the Lord gives discernment to those who trust Him. With the amount of knowledge and so-called knowledge flying at me, this is an anchor. It fits with this OT wisdom:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5–8)

My daughter just sent me a link that says science is now discovering that cutting back on salt actually increases the problem less salt is supposed to solve. Of course the companies that make pills for the related problems want people to buy their ‘solutions’ yet these so-called cures are not fixing the real problem but making it worse.

The Word of God says that discernment is given to those who do not trust anything or anyone unless He says it is true. Since there are no chapters and verses on what medications to take, or not take, that means having an intimacy with Him that hears His take on all issues.

I know — there are many people who justify even evil deeds with “God told me” and that is not from an intimate relationship. Wanting to do the will of God means knowing as much about Him as possible. Can anyone read and understand the Bible and think that it is okay to do what God calls sin? 

I’m reading the Psalms again and those writers knew that others will twist what God says to justify their sin. These people will either be judged or shown mercy and be changed by grace. No one can escape the knowledge and discernment of God.

That said, He is quite willing to guide those who trust Him. Only by doing it do I discover His power to lead me concerning every detail of life. I know what to buy or not, what to ignore or heed. 

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; (Psalm 31:3)
With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. (Psalm 78:72)

This week I had a few days of negative thoughts about growing old and unable and He gave me this verse — without me even looking for it:

Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. (Isaiah 46:4)

The key to discernment is not being smarter but being humble, needy, relying on the One who knows rather on my own understanding. It is in admitting how I need Him and His wisdom, turning from my own ideas and from evil rather that trusting whatever sounds good or appeals to me. 

Jesus, I am so grateful that You make Your will known and that I can trust You with all my heart and with every question and issue of life. Thank You and may I praise Your name forever!

 

The results of hearing God

 

A few weeks ago a woman came a bit late to our church and took a seat on the end of the row in front of us. The congregation was singing, but she was sobbing uncontrollably. To my eye, she appeared devastated by loss and overwhelmed by sorrow. The Lord prompted me to step forward and go to her. As I put my arm around her, she leaned into me and continued to sob. She only said one thing: “He is so beautiful.”

I had no idea who or what she was talking about. A lost child? A broken relationship? Bad news of some sort? As the song neared the end, she settled and nodded when I asked if she was okay. I returned to my seat. After the service, we invited her to sit with us at brunch (a weekly event at our church) and she told us that her tears came when she realized the beauty of Jesus and was overwhelmed with joy.

This reason never entered my mind, yet now I understand the transparency of her response. As today’s reading says, to some the revealing of the Lord comes as a mighty and overwhelming power, yet to others He comes as the tender and gentle presence of love. Either way, He always makes His presence manifest and real to those who experience it. Jesus described it and the certainty of this wonderful gift, even though many would be too self-conscious to allow this revelation to affect them so deeply in a public place full of strangers. But as He said…

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)

I was deeply impressed by this woman and her response to meeting Jesus. It was not the first time. She told us of her faith and how God revealed Himself and His will to her. Today’s devotional says we may have believed certain things before because God says it in the Scriptures, but when He gives it to us with the testimony of an inward consciousness, it becomes ours — totally unassailable by any form of questioning or doubt.

Our son told us that God was revealing much to him about the source and extent of evil in this world. He added, “I couldn’t see it before, but now I do and sometimes I wish I could un-see it.” In other words, when what God says is heard, it sticks. Not that we don’t have lapses. Our spiritual enemies (principalities and powers in heavenly places) make many efforts to rip truth from our minds and plunge us into darkness, yet that light from the Lord cannot be extinguished.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1–5)

In the OT stories, the Israelis believed the Lord was in their midst during their wanderings and in their years of bondage, even when no sign of His presence was seen among them. After they settled and Solomon built the temple, Solomon prayed: “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!” (2 Chronicles 6:18)

I can relate to Solomon’s prayer: How can God be in my life? Yet “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (2 Chronicles 7:1) At once, without the need of any command from Solomon, the people bowed themselves with their faces to the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord. In the midst of whatever happened, they knew He never abandoned them.

PRAY: Lord, Solomon’s prayers and requests affirmed faith and You answer me just as You answered Solomon, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.” (2 Chronicles 7:12) The sacrifice part is as real as the understanding that You are with me, even when all seems dark. If I did not know your presence, I would fight or flee the discomfort and pain sacrifices bring. However, hearing You makes a difference. Your voice helps me accept that Your plan involves death to self and giving up my desires. Your voice also reveals Your plans. Not only that, when I hear You, I know You are standing very close to me!

This sheep needs a Shepherd

 

Strange stories come out beginning with “God told me . . . .” and continuing with something at least doubtful and often bizarre that the story-teller claims came from God. Yet God promises to GUIDE His people. Familiar verses like “The Lord is my Shepherd . . . He leads me beside still waters . . . .” and Isaiah 40:11, “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” verify the reality.

Most of God’s guidance is found in His Word, yet His people did not have the Scriptures for decades at a time. It was not compiled into a book like it is now yet those saints of old heard from Him and knew what He said. The NT is the same. The early church did not have the New Testament, only scattered letters and copies, even many not written by the Apostles or church leaders. How did they know the guidance of God?

Part of it was Jesus’ promise. He said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” long before John’s gospel was written. It is still true. He speaks to our hearts through ideas, others, and sometimes circumstances. Even though the Bible is the final test, He makes His will available to His people.

For example, our oldest son went to a local dealer to buy a new truck. With hand on pen to sign the deal, a thought stopped him. He dropped the pen, went to another dealer and saved $10,000 on the same model. He knew it was the Lord that put that thought in his head. Scripture promises God will give us wisdom for every part of life.

Many psalms say, “This is our God . . . He will guide us forever” and we are like sheep that He guides through the wilderness. A shepherd uses a staff to steer sheep in a better direction and to yank them out of trouble. I know that kind of leading. He also whispers assurances. All this seems too subjective, but if it is God, He persists so I realize His thoughts are not something I dreamed up. His guidance always leads me away from my own fantasies.

On that vein, Proverbs links guidance with integrity. Proverbs 11:3 say, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” God wants transparency — what is seen on the outside is true to what is inside. My thoughts and actions must match; otherwise I cannot expect to have clear guidance. The NT puts it this way:

James 1:5–8. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Being guided by God is an incredible privilege and a boon for those many times when life is confusing.

Isaiah 42:16. And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

When I am confused, He clarifies, even showing me new things I’d never heard or thought of before. Last night I went to bed puzzled concerning a project I’m working on. I’d hit a brick wall with no solution. I woke up at 4:00 a.m. with the answer. I was so excited that sleep never returned for a couple hours.

He also guides me through tough situations. We are experiencing one with our living situation and He keeps saying, “Be still and know that I am God” into both our minds. The rough is not yet smooth but God’s assurance is like a warm hug to a troubled heart.

Isaiah 49:10. they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.

God also guides us into prosperity and takes care of our physical needs. I often call myself His spoiled brat. I’ve experienced poverty without knowing if I could eat or pay power bills, but God guided choices and has blessed us abundantly. He wants us to “be like a watered garden” so we can share what we have with others.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Writing down His thoughts to me keeps my mind on Him, listening for His guidance in most of what I do. The day will come when “the Lamb in the midst of the throne . . . will guide me to springs of living water” and all trials and struggles will be over. In the meantime, the Lord is my Shepherd — I shall not want . . .