Discernment is a key part of living according to the Bible. Discernment is the ability to make judgements about good and bad, and to be discerning between what is helpful and unhelpful. This is a skill that is held in high esteem throughout the Bible, and it is vital for the health of any Christian life.
In Proverbs 14:15, it is written, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” This is the beginning of Christian discernment in the Bible, as this verse emphasizes the importance of thinking through decisions and being able to differentiate between right and wrong. This verse is not just a suggestion, but rather a commandment directing Christians to be discerning in their daily lives.
The Bible talks even more explicitly about discernment when it comes to the spiritual life of a Christian. In Philippians 1:9-10, it states, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.” This verse emphasizes the importance of having knowledge and insight in order to discern what is best. The knowledge and insight is important in determining what is from God and what is from the world.
The Bible also speaks of discernment relating to Christian fellowship. In Romans 12:2, it states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This verse speaks of being able to resist the world’s values and being able to discern God’s will. This is a challenge, but one that is vital to living a Christian life.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of having discernment and wisdom in order to avoid being deceived. Throughout the Bible, there are numerous warnings to avoid being deceived. In Proverbs 3:5-6, it is written, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This verse illustrates the importance of having wisdom and placing trust in God rather than in our own understanding.
The Bible also talks about the importance of having discernment in dealing with difficult people and difficult situations. In Luke 14:11, it states, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This speaks to the importance of being able to understand how to properly and appropriately deal with difficult people and difficult situations.
The Discernment of the Word
The Bible is clear that one of the responsibilities of a Christian is to be discerning when it comes to hearing and understanding the word of God. In Matthew 7:1-5, it states, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This speaks to not only the importance of being discerning, but also to the importance of being humble when making judgements. This is because, when it comes to the word of God, our understanding and judgement should be informed by humility.
The Bible also encourages a Christian to be discerning when it comes to applying the word of God to their life. In Deuteronomy 29:19, it states, “And when you come into the land and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you; it shall not be eaten.” This illustrates the importance of applying the word of God correctly, being discerning when it comes to understanding the Biblical commands and how to apply them to our own lives.
The Bible also warns those who do not have the discernment to apply the word of God correctly. In Jeremiah 5:21, it states, “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes and see not, who have ears and hear not.” This verse speaks to not only the importance of being discerning in applying the word of God, but also to the danger of being foolish and not seeing the truth that is in front of us.
The Discernment of Speech
The Bible not only emphasizes the importance of discerning our actions and the word of God, but it also encourages us to be discerning in our speech. In the book of James, it is written, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” This emphasizes the importance of being discerning in our speech and our words. We must be aware of what we are saying and make sure it is in line with the teachings of the Bible.
The Bible also encourages us to be discerning in the way we listen to others. In Proverbs 4:25, it states, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.” This is a powerful reminder to remain focused and discerning in the sounds we let reach our ears. We are to be mindful of what we listen to, and to be discerning as to whether something is beneficial or not.
The importance of being discerning with our speech is also seen in the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 16:24, it states, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” This speaks to the power of words and how they can either be healing or destructive. Therefore, it is important to be discerning in the words we speak, as they can be either a source of life or a source of death.
The book of Proverbs also encourages discernment of speech and thought. In Proverbs 15:7, it states, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the foolish does not do so.” This is a reminder to not only be discerning in the words we speak, but also in the thoughts we have. We must be mindful of our heart and thoughts, as they can lead us down paths of destruction.
Discernment in Decision-Making
The Bible also speaks to the importance of discernment when it comes to making decisions. In Proverbs 14:12, it is written, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” This emphasizes the fact that, in life, our decisions matter and that it is important to be discerning in our decision making. We must trust in God and seek His guidance in the decisions we make.
The Bible speaks to the importance of seeking God’s guidance and wisdom in our decision-making. In Proverbs 16:3, it is written, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” This verse emphasizes the importance of committing all of our works to the Lord and seeking His advice and guidance in our decisions. We must not rely on ourselves, but trust in God and depend on Him to lead us in the right direction.
The Bible also emphasizes the importance of being discerning when it comes to our decisions. In Proverbs 10:8, it states, “The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall.” This speaks to the importance of being wise in our decisions, and not letting our own thoughts and desires take the lead. We must be diligent and discerning when making decisions, making sure that the decisions we make are informed by wisdom and the teachings of the Bible.
The book of Proverbs also speaks to the importance of being discerning when it comes to our decisions. In Proverbs 11:14, it states, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” This verse emphasizes the importance of seeking counsel and advice when making decisions. It is vital to be discerning and consult with wise people before making decisions that could have lasting repercussions.
The Discernment of Heart
The Bible stresses the importance of being discerning in our hearts and our minds. In Proverbs 3:21-22, it is written, “My son, do not let them depart from your eyes— keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck.” This is a reminder to be discerning in our hearts, to seek the wisdom and guidance of God, and to carefully examine our own thoughts and desires.
The Bible also speaks to the importance of being discerning in our hearts when it comes to our relationships. In Proverbs 4:23-24 it states, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.” This is a warning to be careful and discerning in our relationships, being mindful to not fall victim to deceit and lies.
The Bible also mentions the importance of testing our hearts and our thoughts. In Proverbs 16:2, it is written, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.” This is a reminder that even though we may feel something is right, it is still important to test it against the word of God. We must seek to be discerning in our hearts and test every thought and every emotion against the teachings of the Bible.
The Bible also speaks to the importance of praying for discernment. In the book of James, it is written, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” This verse speaks to the importance of asking for discernment, as God is always willing to give us the wisdom and guidance we need.
