A Discerning Mind

Going to the grocery store is getting to be more and more complicated. The other day, all I wanted was barbecue sauce and the myriad of choices available just set my mind in a whirl. How does a person make a choice with so many items from which to choose? Now there are a multitude of brands and each brand has a number of flavour choices.

It’s not just in the food store. Where we once had a few rows of toys in a department store, we now have giant stores that specialize only in toys. The same can be said for sporting goods or vitamins or makeup…the list goes on and on.

We are called on to make many choices in today’s world. Our daily lives require us to take a look at our options and discern which is the best choice for us. We have many options for leisure choices – more than in any other generation.

Spending or time choices are usually governed by money, need, or specific personal requirements. What governs our choices when we must make choices of a spiritual nature?

I know this has been forefront on my mind as I have raised and guided my children. It was also on the Apostle Paul’s mind when he wrote a letter to the believers at Philippi:

“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 and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 NIV)

Members of the Early Church had moral issues, relationship problems, and unhealthy choice options just as we do today. Similar to us in a store looking for a product, these early believers needed to distinguish between what was true and best and that which was not of value to themselves and the Christian community. Paul had seen the believers at Philippi make some unwise choices such as being prideful and finding fault with each other. He wants to direct them to a better way. He is hopeful that love will be the norm and not things like petty fighting.

It boils down to considering what really matters. Are we going to let the things of this world take precedence over things of the faith? Discerning where to devote our time and energies is a significant matter for a Christian. With prayer we can better distinguish what God’s design is for us.

Our priority as Christians is as Paul states:

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NIV)

Yes, we have a myriad of choices in our lives today. Paul reminds us that no other option is better than focusing on our Lord – believing in His saving power and living our lives for Him.

Soon we will back into fall where we have a number of new choices for our time as programs begin in a variety of areas. I pray friend that you will take the time to discern what it is God wants you doing at this time. How can you live for Him right where you are? He has placed you in your current situation for a reason.

Also, as we get into more busyness after a summer break, I pray that we can find ways to grow in our faith and service as well as lead lives that are pure and blameless. We witness a lot to other people simply by how we lead our lives.

Discernment takes time and effort. I am sure we can all document quick choices we have made and the not-so-great repercussions that followed. In spiritual matters particularly, this is not usually the best option.

Paul hopes the early Christians will “abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” It is a growing process. We will mature in wisdom when we take the time to develop it.

I cannot make choices in shopping without taking the time to review the options. As Christians, we cannot discern what is best if we are not in tune with God’s Word and equipped with ways to put it into practice.

Proper discernment (testing and approving) takes work, but it is worth the effort as we reap the rewards of a life lived for Christ.

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