1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?
“The death of President Franklin Roosevelt abruptly thrust Harry Truman into the presidency. He traveled to Capitol Hill to address Congress, and at the end of his speech he said: “As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray Almighty God, in the words of King Solomon: ‘Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?’ I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people.” That’s not just a prayer for kings like Solomon or presidents like Truman. It’s a prayer each of us can make our own. James 1:5 tells us to ask God for wisdom. We’re living in days that call for insight, for the lines between good and evil are blurred. Let’s learn to ask God for constant wisdom in our ongoing decisions, and let’s depend on Him to give us daily discernment and wise judgment.” (Dr. Jeremiah)
We all need discernment, but how often do we ask for it? We may ask for it for a significant purchase, the right Dr., a new job, how to handle a situation, understanding scripture, etc…. but how many days go by where we lean unto our own understanding? Cultures, neighbors, family, and friends, who do not know God, spend no or limited time in God’s Word make decisions, have opinions, and make judgments based on their own wisdom and understanding. We are foolish to think these do not influence us and our thinking and how we speak, and how we act. Many laws are made and rulings mandated by people in authority who have only worldly discernment. “The blind leading the blind”.
News media outlets proclaim what they discern as worthy news and carry on and on with their opinions about it. People post on social media sites what they discern as worthy thoughts for others to read. News hosts and people void of God’s Word and influence in their lives – gossip, tell lies, embellish, spread rumors, boast, and reject any notion that God will judge for all of these down to the thoughts that produced the words and actions. When we are complacent in studying God’s Word and neglect asking for discernment daily we will be influenced by something worldly or of the flesh.
It is not hard to see. Pornography is called adult entertainment. LBGQT is called an alternative lifestyle. Abortion is called a women’s rights or women’s choice. Greed is called being a shrewd businessman. Hate is called righteous anger. Honesty has been replaced by ratings and sensationalism. The Bible is called a fairytale made up by man. Jesus Christ was just a good man. There is no God. There is no judgment now or coming in the future. There is no heaven or hell. There is no return of Jesus Christ coming soon. Lies are called truth. Truths are called lies. It is all around us all of the time and if we are not diligent in our study of God’s Word with a desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do we too will easily be swayed little by little by the things of this world and what it deems right and wrong.
Dawn and I both spend time in God’s Word each day. We stopped watching the news years ago. It is amazing how your thinking changes when you are not being influenced by their opinions and thoughts. There is a new term that surfaced 6 years ago – Fake News. I doubt that it just started to turn fake but rather it has been sliding fast into this state and someone had called it what it was. Someone has said, “not reading the news leaves a person uninformed, reading the news leaves them misinformed”. Both are true for news outlets and social media posts. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a filter on TVs and Social Media outlets that would flash, “Embellished”, “Lie”, “False”, or “True”. The Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit are more than able to give discernment to the hearts and minds of those desiring it for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. It is sad to think that people of God actually spend more time listening to news outlets or reading social media posts than they do reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word and seeking discernment for each day.
Each day will have its fill of worldly and fleshly ideas, thoughts, and actions and we do well to be able to discern between it and things of God. How we think, speak, and our actions are determined by what our heart is filled with. Let it be filled with the Word of God and a desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do.
