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Topic:The Value of a
Discerning Eye
Discernment is the ability to
decide between God’s truth and
the world’s error.
In your life as a believer, it is important for you to have discernment so you
can understand God’s Word and apply it in ways that honor Him.
Reading the Bible is the first step in this
process.
The second step is to consider the context in which the passage was written by asking these
questions:
- Who did God choose to write this particular
passage - What were the historical circumstances of its writing?
- To whom was the passage written—and why?
- What is the tone of the passage?
- How does it connect to the passages around it?
- How do respected Christian scholars and teachers interpret the passage?
- What relevance does the passage have for believers today?
You can’t just name and claim promises in Scripture that look
good to you. It’s important not to fall into the trap of lifting individual passages and verses out of context to serveyour need in a particular situation.
You cannot, for example, simply name and claim promises that look
good to you.
Some of God’s promises are
conditional; you have to meet certain criteria before you can claim them.
And those promises that aren’t
conditional may be claimed only with prayer and an earnest desire to know God’s will for your life.
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your
study of God’s Word.
While God wants you to experience His best, He
also wants you to know Him and enjoy His presence in a personal way that expresses His sufficiency.
In order to enjoy His presence fully, you need the assistance of the Holy Spirit. So, before you open
God’s Word, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your study
and application.
Claiming a promise from God’s Word without guidance from the Holy Spirit will lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and frustration.
Now when the tempter came to
Him, he said But He
answered and said, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.’
” Then the devil took Him up
into the holy city, set Him on the
pinnacle of the temple, and said
to Him, “If You are the Son of
God, throw Yourself down. For it
is written: ‘He shall give His
angels charge over you,’ and ‘In
their hands they shall bear you
up, Lest you dash your foot
against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to
him, “It is written again, ‘You
shall not tempt the LORD your
God’ ” (Matthew 4:3–7).
6. Read Matthew 4:1–11. How did Jesus respond
each time Satan tried to tempt Him (4, 7, 10)?
