discernment

We look forward to the Day that Jesus sets up His Kingdom on this earth, taking authority over evil and establishing justice. Many of God’s people have suffered by being slandered, persecuted, or set at naught, as if the testimony that resides within them is of no worth. As we look at scriptures about that Day, we see, indeed, there is a focus on restoring justice. In Malachi there is another restoration mentioned; discernment.

In the 3rd chapter of Malachi we read that those who honored God’s name and revered Him were given discernment; the ability to “distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not,” (Mal 3:18). The prophet then speaks about the Day of the Lord, where evil is trod down. So we see discernment and justice are both restored to the saints. Though we want justice, the question is, do we want discernment?

In the time we live in we see a strong emphasis on tolerance. People hold different opinions and a wide variety of beliefs. In the world, truth has become something that is fashioned according to one’s own thinking. Though we allow this in the world, it has also been seeping into the Church. The Spirit of Truth has lost value amongst many of God’s people, and the spirit of tolerance is supported. There is a great fear against judging a person or action, and therefore discernment has been devalued. Those who value discernment between good and evil, and between those who serve the Lord and those who do not are seen as harsh and judgmental. Perhaps another question that should be asked is does discernment ( having the truth) mean that one is judging another?

The value of truth is not in its ability to stand alone as a testimony against those who disobey it. The value of truth is in its ability to lead one to change. One must love the truth, and care about change in order to walk with God. Those who do not receive a love of the truth can be easily led astray into teachings of ignoring the way things really are, or thinking that the way they choose to think on evil circumstances will change them into good ones. The real change will not come unless the one who sees evil will partner with the One who holds the keys to change; Jesus.

Discernment hurts. It is not pleasant to see the wrongdoing and failures of those we care about, and to realize the cost of those failures will come upon the person we care about. But God has our victory, and our brother’s victory, in His mind. He wants to teach us how to facilitate growth, and to bring healing and victory to those who are failing miserably. He holds the answers, and the keys to every man’s success. What it takes on our part is caring. Caring, and acting from this position of caring, will lead to the most powerful force that could reside within us; love. This is where we want to get to; love. Love sees no burden. Love has a willingness that goes beyond human reasoning. Love brings Life where there is none.

Faith in God must be coupled with love, for faith and love work together. To have the key to help another person, one must believe that Jesus has the keys, and that He will give them to us. There must be faith that He loves the weak failing person. It is not an absence of caring on His part that causes people to go astray, for He loves us all intently. In His design, God has made it so that people are to help people. We are to ask for the keys that will open the door to our brother’s success and triumphant victory over weakness and sin. He is willing to give them to us.

Let us not balk at seeing our brother’s need, nor cover it over with our fear of judging him. We were meant to have discernment, and to facilitate growth and restoration in our brother’s life. After all, this is the work Jesus also did on the earth, and He continues to do it still. Amen.