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!

 

Advice from Mom and Dad . . .

Exodus 28; Proverbs 4; John 7; Galatians 3

My mother and father both repeated words of wisdom. Mom often said, “We must need it or we would not be getting it.” With that, she instilled in me the ideas of contentment in all circumstances and looking for goodness in whatever was happening.

My father often said, “Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Neither were strong Christians, but from biblical proverbs, I’ve learned the value in my parent’s advice. They are part of today’s readings:

Hear, O (children), a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight . . . . My (child), be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. (Proverbs 4:1; 20–26)

Dad’s words are in another proverb, but this one says it also; I’m to watch what I say, especially when my trust level is low and I’m relying more on me than on the Lord. Know when to shut up.

Mom’s words are here too, but in another format. She used different words to say I should maintain a trusting heart, one that did not get anxious over events but looked at them carefully — they could be revealing a need in me. In other words, keep my heart right because, as these verses say, what flows out of it is the very source of my values and actions. Her wisdom was not appreciated when I was young, but after Jesus saved me, I began to realize the importance of my motivation in doing the will of God. For one thing, I cannot fake anything. The Lord wants integrity; I must be real, not pretending. Keep my heart right with Him. That is best done from a place of knowing He has reasons for everything that happens to me. (Romans 8:28-29)

John 7 takes me to an interesting passage where Jesus explains how this works. He says when my heart is right, then the Holy Spirit gives me all that I need to know: when to talk, what to say, when to shut up, and wisdom to deal with whatever comes along.

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)

In other words, when I’m motivated to do the will of God, He will give me all I need to speak with authority — because it is His glory at stake and my life is not about me. I’ve realized that this attitude can only come from a heart that fully trusts Him. Speaking the will of God is not always the best way to win friends so my motivations must be for His glory, not mine.

Besides wanting His glory, the ability to be content, knowing when to speak and so on, comes from following the lead of the Holy Spirit. My old nature has none of that capacity. No matter how ‘godly’ or wise I might want to be, it will not happen unless I’m relying on Him, knowing that whatever comes my way is under His control. If I don’t need it, I will not get it, just as my mom advised!

APPLY: How fitting that the last reading for today asks this question just in case I’m tempted to run my own life today, or run off at the mouth today: “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:2–3)

Obviously God wants me to remember the advice of my father and mother, trusting Him in whatever happens, guarding my heart so my responses are according to His will, and keeping my mouth shut rather than say things that come from a heart that, when challenged, tends toward foolishness.

Beware of the Liar . . .

This morning, my husband had an appointment in the hospital for an angiogram. He had to be there at 6:30 so before we left, I read today’s devotional from “My Utmost for His Highest” without reading the entire verse or its context.

Chambers quoted Jesus from John 7:17 exactly this way: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine . . .” Then he went on to say that if a person wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience and if a person is in the dark, it is because of deliberate disobedience.

I’ve been asking God to show me what to do in a few areas of life, and as yet have no answers. He is silent, but I’ve not been concerned because He will show me in His time. However, when I read Chambers’ interpretation of this verse, I began to feel accused. Am I in the dark because I am disobedient? What did I do? Where am I being disobedient? My mind began to fog up. I felt arrows aimed at me and a settling sense of oppression and uncertainty.

Later, I read the rest of the verse and the verses around it. This is what it says . . .

“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)

In this passage, Jesus defends His authority. He is not telling me that I will learn God’s will by obedience. Instead, He is saying those who obey Him will know that His teaching is from God. He is talking to a religious establishment who questions why He can say what He says. The rest of John’s gospel says that the obedience Jesus looks for is the obedience of faith, of trusting Him for their salvation. If they do that, they will be convinced that His teaching is from God.

As for how this passage applies to me, I know obedience is important and that I must walk by the light that God has given me, but I also know not every instance of uncertainty is related to disobedience. For instance, I might not be ready for the light that He can give.

In addition, obedience does not earn God’s light. He gives it because I need it, not because I deserve it. Obedience is God at work in me, not me working to gain a pat on the head from Him.

I began wondering why many of Chambers' readings are spot on, but there are times, like today, where they sound more like I am wrong, wrong, wrong, not doing enough, etc. and he is accusing his readers, hinting at salvation by works, and producing a confusing sense of vague guilt.

When the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin, He is clear in what needs confessing and clear about what I must do. If the accusations are foggy and unclear, they are always from the Liar who was cast down and now accuses God’s people day and night before God (see Revelation 12:10).

Satan is busy trying to cast me down with him, but “Jesus lives forever to intercede for me.” I have conquered that Liar by Jesus’ shed blood, by declaring my testimony of salvation, and by not being concerned about my life (verse 11).  

I know that sin messes up understanding, but Jesus died for that sin that He might give everlasting life, and along with it His wisdom and everything I need to live a godly life. I also know that God is not the author of confusion. Instead, Satan loves to throw lies at me to get me confused, to offset the power of faith and the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Today, my prayer to God is this: If Your silence is due to my sin, show me what I need to confess. Forgive and cleanse me. Grant grace and show me what to do. If Your silence is merely “Please wait” then please protect me from the enemy who wants me to feel guilty all the time, even over sin that You have already covered in the blood of the Lamb. Also, grant me a gracious heart toward Chambers and others who shake their fingers rather than point them in the direction of Jesus Christ.

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Later: As soon as I prayed, the oppression lifted. I am not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices. As for my hubby, he had three stents put in near his heart, one that was seriously large. They are keeping him in recovery for at least tonight and maybe two days to make certain everything is okay. He feels great and has the most amazing attitude. Thank You, Lord.