2021-12-20
Hebrews 5:14 NCV
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 per cent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented a concept for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they rejected it. All the other Swiss companies he approached did the same. They lived by the philosophy, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ But the inventor believed in his design, and took it to a company in Japan. The name of the company was Seiko, the design of the watch was digital, and guess what? Sales of digital watches soon outstripped the traditional analogue ones. One discernment-driven decision can change the course of our entire life. And our discernment can also end up blessing others.
Here are two things we need to know about God-given discernment: 1) It’s shaped by Scripture. ‘Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil’ (v.13-14 NCV). Spending time in God’s Word, reading it, studying it, reflecting on it, and asking questions about it will help us develop our level of discernment.
2) It’s sharpened by use. The more we use it, the more competent we become. We’ll sometimes make mistakes when it comes to exercising discernment, but just like a muscle, the more we flex and stretch it, the stronger it grows.
And here’s one last thought about discernment: the Bible refers to ‘discerning of spirits’, or attitudes and motivations (see 1 Corinthians 12:10). What a great advantage to have! Let’s pray for the gift of discernment and use it at every opportunity.
Zech 9-11; John 21:1-14; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
2021-12-19
1 Konings 3:9 DB
‘Daardie nag het die Here met Salomo in ‘n droom gepraat en vir hom gevra: ‘Wat kan Ek vir jou gee?’ (vers 5 DB). Salomo het geantwoord: ‘…Gee vir my die insig om regverdig te wees en tussen goed en kwaad te kan onderskei…’ (vers 9 DB). Volgende lees ons: ‘Die Here was baie gelukkig met wat Salomo gevra het…’ (vers 10 DB). Die Here was egter nie klaar met Salomo nie: ‘Boonop gee Ek jou ook alles wat jy nie gevra het nie. Jy sal baie ryk wees en die mense sal jou eer. Geen ander koning sal so ryk en so geëerd wees soos jy nie’ (vers 13 DB).
Goeie oordeel het Salomo een van die grootste konings wat nog ooit geheers het, gemaak. Jy het seker al gehoor dat mense sê: ‘Vertrou jou instink!’ Goeie oordeel hang egter nie net van intuïsie, intellek of ervaring af nie. Ons lees in Spreuke: ‘Vertrou op die Here met alles wat jy het. Moenie staatmaak op jou eie insigte nie. Vra na die wil van God in alles wat jy doen. Hy sal vir jou die regte pad wys’ (Spreuke 3:5-6 NLV).
Daar is twee soorte goeie oordeel: natuurlike oordeel en geestelike oordeel. Een soort kan jou in die steek laat – die ander soort sal nie. Wanneer natuurlike oordeel jou nie ‘n tree verder kan bring nie, stel geestelike oordeel jou in staat om met geloof en selfvertroue voort te gaan. Hoe sal jy die verskil herken?
Jakobus sê vir ons: ‘Maar die wysheid wat van Bo kom, is in die eerste plek suiwer. Verder is dit vredeliewend, inskiklik, bedagsaam. Dit is bereid om deernis te bewys, en het goeie gevolge. Dit diskrimineer nooit en is altyd opreg’ (Jakobus 3:17 NLV). Kan jy jou so ‘n lewe indink? Die goeie nuus is dat jy so ‘n lewe kan hê!
Sielskos: Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13; 2 Kor 3:1
1 Kings 3:9 NCV
‘The LORD appeared to [Solomon] in a dream during the night. God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”‘ (v.5 NCV). Solomon said, ‘I ask that you give me a heart that understands, so I can rule the people in the right way and will know the difference between right and wrong’ (v.9 NCV). Next, we read, ‘The LORD was pleased that Solomon had asked this (v.10 NCV). But God hadn’t finished talking to Solomon: ‘I will also give you what you did not ask for: riches and honour. During your life no other king will be as great as you’ (v.13 NCV). Discernment made Solomon one of the greatest kings who ever reigned.
You’ve probably heard the saying ‘Go with your gut feeling.’ But discernment is much more than that. It doesn’t rely only on intuition, intellect, or experience. The writer of Proverbs says, ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
There are two kinds of discernment: natural discernment and spiritual discernment. The first can fail us; the second never will. When natural discernment can’t take us any further, spiritual discernment enables us to keep going with faith and confidence. How do we recognise the difference? James tells us, ‘The wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest’ (James 3:17 NCV). That’s what we’re aiming for, and that’s what God will give us when we ask Him for discernment.
Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13; 2 Cor 3:1
1 Kings 3:9 NKJV
“The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream…and…said, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?'” (v. 5 NKJV). Solomon said, “Give…Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (vv. 6, 9 NKJV). Next, we read, “The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing” (v. 10 NKJV). But God wasn’t through talking to Solomon: “I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days” (v. 13 NKJV). Discernment made Solomon one of the greatest kings who ever reigned.
You have probably heard the saying “Go with your gut!” Management consultant Robert Heller adds this advice: “Never ignore a gut feeling, but never believe that it’s enough.” Discernment doesn’t rely on intuition alone, nor does it rely solely on intellect or experience. The writer of Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
There are two kinds of discernment: natural discernment and spiritual discernment. One can fail you – the other won’t. When natural discernment can’t take you a step further, spiritual discernment enables you to keep going with faith and confidence. How will you recognize the difference? James tells us, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17 NKJV). Can you imagine such a life? The good news is – you can have it!
Soul food: Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13; 2 Cor 3:1
2021-12-18
1 Kronieke 12:32 NLV
Wie het gesê: ‘Wellington is ‘n slegte generaal, die Engelse is slegte soldate; ons sal die kwessie teen middagete opgelos hê’? Napoleon Bonaparte, net voor die slag van Waterloo in 1815. Wie het gesê: ‘Ek dink daar is wêreldwyd ‘n mark vir omtrent vyf rekenaars’? Thomas J. Watson, die voorsitter van IBM, in 1943. Wie het gesê: ‘Ek het nie lyfwagte nodig nie’? Jimmy Hoffa, ‘n maand voor sy verdwyning in 1975.
Wat het al hierdie mense in gemeen? ‘n Gebrek aan goeie oordeel – wat hulle duur te staan gekom het. Jy het goeie oordeel nodig om die lewe se geleenthede raak te sien en die lewe se probleme op te los. As jy die ware oorsaak van ‘n probleem kan raaksien, sal jy ‘n baie groter kans hê om dit op te los.
Dit beteken dat wanneer jy in die area van jou kerngawe bly, jou oordeel sterker sal wees. As jy dus goeie oordeel aan die dag wil lê, moet jy in areas waar jy sterk is te werk gaan. Doen egter meer as dit. Bid vir goeie oordeel. Dis een van die nege ‘vrugte van die Gees’ wat in die Skrif aan ons belowe word (sien 1 Korintiërs 12:7-10).
Sommige van Israel se grootste oorwinnings het plaasgevind toe Dawid koning was. As ons kyk na die mans wat sy weermag opgemaak het, lees ons: ‘…Hierdie manne [van Issaskar] het die tye verstaan en geweet wat vir Israel die regte pad is.’ Goeie oordeel help jou om deure van geleenthede te sien waar ander mense net baksteenmure sien. Dis sal jou van die lewe se slaggate red en jou wys wat ‘die regte pad’ is – bid dus vir goeie oordeel.
Sielskos: Sag 5-8; Joh 20:19-31; Ps 67; Spr 30:29-33
