Discernment-

 Discernment - a topic I have been thinking about.  Then today I had a devotion about it. In the devotional Charles Spurgeon said this:  Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.

This picture looks pretty right - in fact, it is almost right!

The author in this morning's devotional went on to explain that her father was an expert in the field of books and their values.  He had this capability because he had read ever so many books and had spent time looking them over and studying them.  He knew an authentic book when he found one at a yard sale or flea market.  He had discernment about what was real and true.  

Let's use this idea then and turn to spiritual matters. We hear many ideas each day as we read, talk to friends and co-workers, and listen to the media.  I think many of the ideas we hear are almost true... the ideas have some truths in them that are right and then some ideas that aren't right. As Christians, we must be very discerning as to what we let permeate our thoughts and beliefs. We must be very careful what we believe.

One of my first favorite verses I learned as a Christian was Romans 12:2.  I knew it talked about living a new life and not conforming to the world.  I didn't realize until I read this devotional that it also talks about discerning between good and evil.  

Romans 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Along with that verse let us look at 1 John 4:1  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

We must be very discerning in every area of our lives- finances, relationships, and parenting. But it seems to me this is especially true today in the spiritual realm.  So many things that are taught are only partially right and the other half is almost right.  But that won't do.....we cannot water down or change the word of God.  We must live by what the Word says to be true.  We must know Truth!

May we seek to be discerning Christians.  I pray we may know the difference between right and wrong/ mediocre and best/ truth from falsehood/ truth and half-truths/ right and almost right.  May we may know what is 'of God' and what is 'of man'.