Friday, February 17, 2017

The Vision (2.17.17): The Wise Man is Discerning


Note: Devotion taken from sermon on Ecclesiastes 8:1-11.

Ecclesiastes 8:5b: “a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgement.”

The overall theme of Ecclesiastes 8:1-11 is that the wise man will be a man of discernment.

One online source defines discernment, in part, as follows:

Discernment is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well (or the activity of so doing)…. Within judgment, discernment involves going past the mere perception of something and making nuanced judgments about its properties or qualities. Considered as a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others (Wikipedia!).

Biblical discernment usually involves recognizing that what is important or valuable is not always that which immediately meets the eye.

Think of when the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as king:

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Think of the prophesy of the Messiah:

Isaiah 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

And of John’s warning to believers:

1 John 4:1a: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

Part of gaining wisdom is gaining discernment. Part of maturing in Christ is attaining discernment. May the Lord give to his people the ability to exercise godly discernment.


Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

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