Recently I heard a thought-provoking quote by Charles Spurgeon, “Discernment is not the ability to know right from wrong; it is the ability to know right from almost right.”
In a world in which truth is almost indiscernible, hidden and twisted to manipulate actions and prove inaccuracies, it becomes more essential to be able to discern right from almost right.
It’s an old trick. Satan deceived Eve in the garden by using a partial truth mixed with a lie. He appealed to her senses, made a lie sound like truth, and persuaded her to bite.
When Jesus was in the wilderness, the enemy appeared to Him and used “almost right” and “twisted right” to try and persuade Him. He tempted Jesus when His flesh was weak, 40 days into a complete fast. He even misused scripture, but Jesus did not bite! He answered Satan each time with, “It is written.” He knew the Word! Jesus also knew who He was; we must know who we are in Christ. He spent time with the Father, and we must spend time with the Father, to know Him.
We must be careful not to be caught in the snare. Our beliefs must be supported by the Word of God and our knowledge of the character of Almighty God. I’m certain your pastor or Bible study teacher would want you to check what is being taught to be certain it is in alignment with God’s Word. Jot down the scriptural references used in the sermon, open the Bible, and read the verses for yourself. It’s easy these days to check several translations using various Bible apps.
The Word itself tells us, “Study to show thyself approved,” (2Timothy 2:15) to rightly divide or understand and interpret what the Word is saying to us. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you when you read scripture, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed thy commandments.” (Psalm 119:66)
Proverbs 4:7 admonishes, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” I love the Amplified version of this scripture, “The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].
Romans 12:2 sums it up! “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Our minds are renewed by washing in the water of His Word.
We must be careful to check what we hear and what we are tempted to believe against the true Word of the Holy Bible. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2Cor.10:5 NIV)
In His care, Bebe
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