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on milk, then it is much harder for us to heavenward and God sent it down to him.
have a deep spiritual ability to discern in Job had the desire to discern where he
keeping with the mind of God. had erred (Job 6:24) and what mistakes
So, by looking at the Old and New had brought about his suffering and mis-
Testaments alongside one another, we ap- fortune in life. Even with the assembling
preciate a clearer vision of discernment. It of some of his intelligent, “opinion-rich”
is the careful consideration and scrutiniza- friends and hearing each one expressing
tion of a matter, the judging of a decision his opinions on a whole range of topics, it
by making a distinction between two sides wasn’t until Job heard from God Himself
of the equation. that he realized he lacked true discern-
ment. He concluded, “Therefore I have
Where Can It Be Found? uttered what I did not understand [biyn],
Where can one obtain such a profit- things too wonderful for me” (Job 42:3). In
able aptitude, the ability to discern? It other words, he lacked true discernment
won’t be found in self-help books with until he heard the voice of God.
their foundation in human wisdom and David was another king who realized
a secular worldview. Nor can it be found the source of true discernment. “Who
in motivational speakers who encourage can understand [biyn] his errors? Cleanse
us to meditate and get in touch with our me from secret faults” (Psa 19:12). He
inner selves. Oftentimes in Christendom cried out to the Lord above to be able to
we encounter half-truths. We post and we discern where he had erred and how to be
share and we like and we forward quotes cleansed of his sin.
or steps that, on the surface, sound good. The apostle Paul understood that true
But if they are only half-truths, then they discernment can only come from the truly
aren’t real truths and will not lead to real spiritual person, or, in other words, the
spiritual discernment. redeemed soul that has the Holy Spirit
Thankfully, when it comes to some- dwelling within. “But the natural man
thing as vital as discernment, God in His does not receive the things of the Spirit
goodness is eager to provide counsel. He of God, for they are foolishness to him;
doesn’t lay before us three or four accept- nor can he know them, because they are
able routes and tell us to choose the one spiritually discerned” (1Co 2:14).
that seems most suitable to us. He doesn’t So, for us today, true discernment, the
leave us in front of various shelves of “Dis- ability to correctly and carefully scrutinize
cernment for Dummies” books to choose and consider a matter, is something that
one by our favourite author or with the comes from the Lord and from His Word,
best-looking cover. which “is living and powerful … and is a
Oftentimes when we identify those discerner of the thoughts and intents of
whom we think have the most discern- the heart” (Heb 4:12).
ment, we think of those of higher learning, May the Lord help us to look above and
those with the highest IQs, those who look within the pages of Scripture so that,
would do best in a debate or even those like Solomon, we may be found with the
with the most life experience. But that ability to discern between good and evil
is not where true discernment is found. and make decisions in our lives that are
Where did Solomon find it? He looked pleasing to God.

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