Recently I have been running into a common theme in
teaching youth (and in our family devotions.) It is one that encourages us over
and over to grow in our knowledge and discernment. (See Philippians 1:9) As you
see this verse you will see that this is the prayer Paul had for the
Philippians, and is very similar to the prayers recorded in the other church
letters. We are urged to get to know God (through His Word) so that we may be
able to discern things…
Discernment is a word that means to perceive, detect,
recognize, etc. The question becomes, “what does God want me to recognize
through His Word?”
Philippians 1:10-11 gives us a big part of the answer: 10 that you may approve the things that are
excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness
which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
The Scriptures
give us the map to a life of excellence. They give us the guidelines to living
a life pleasing to God. They give us warning when we may go astray.
As I sat in church yesterday I loved hearing some great sports
analogies. The pastor was talking about indicators in our lives that we need
our “spiritual batteries charged.” He talked about the need to watch out for
the “yellow caution flag” in a race. It tells us to slow down and be careful
because danger is ahead. It tells us that now would be a good time to take a
pit stop and make sure everything is in order.
Allow the Scriptures to daily give you direction. Watch for
the caution flags they throw in your life. Use them to not only learn what is
right, but to also help you avoid what is wrong.
Lamentations 3: 40Let's
take a good look at the way we're living and
reorder our lives under God. (The Message)
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