A
couple of Sunday’s ago at worship service, I had opportunity to say hello to someone
who is often in conversation with others. Immediately I sensed despair in his spirit.
For several days, I carried him prayerfully in my spirit.
Discernment: The
quality of being able to grasp and
comprehend what is obscure.
Discernment is key to my work as a nurse. I must be able to
grasp what I can’t quickly, diagnostically measure.
Jesus’ mandate to us that we become
"wise as serpents and harmless as doves,” implies that we must develop
discernment, the ability to detect what is obscure, and to detect wrong motives
(including our own.)
"I
am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as wise as serpents
and as harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 KJV
To be wise as serpents and harmless as doves is to
combine both intelligence and compassion in our care for others. We are to
embody these characteristics in our lives as followers of Jesus.
The gift of discerning spirits
becomes increasingly important as we approach the end of this age. Deception is
always the hallmark of extremely dangerous times.
The disciples asked Jesus
to reveal the sign of His return. He gave not one, but several signs. He warned the disciples of deception, disruption, selfish and ambitious motivations.
Prevalent in every
organized social circle, are political agendas, strongholds of power, spoilers
and “little foxes that eat the vines.” We are to test/discern the spirits, to move
with intelligence and compassion, with wisdom and a disarming spirit.
The apostle Paul warned
that the battles we face daily are not won by conventional weapons. Contrary,
the weapons we seek must be spiritual (not of this world,) having the power to
destroy arguments and every false claim that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God. 1 Corinthians 12:10
Sheep among wolves -
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