Thanksgiving For Discernment
Learning not to take the bait. Happy Thanksgiving 2024.
Discernment is the ability to see behind what appears straightforward and obvious. It is the ability to sense the hook behind the bait and the the courage to resist the peer pressure to take a bite.
At the same time, those with this ability to see the con when others apparently can’t, generally live calmer less stressful lives.
Fortunately, discernment can be taught and learned. That’s really the purpose of wisdom literature like the book of Proverbs. It is to teach the young and foolish (defined as those who live apart from any fear or reverence for God) the ways of the wise. Essentially, it is the study of discernment.
If I fear God I don’t need to fear evil. That’s lesson one. My focus on the good reveals what a cheap counterfeit evil actually is.
If it weren’t for the fact evil is murderous and destructive, its behavior, when seen in the bright light of truth, is quite ridiculous. Basically, evil wants what it can only have by raw force. It will not play by any rules or wait its turn in line. And this makes it stand out to the discerning eye.
Let’s go back to the beginning of man’s encounter with evil so I can point out something in the story that is obvious and yet rarely appreciated.
I don’t know what the serpent looked like before he was changed into its current shape, but still, even if it were shiny and had great plumage, the fact it is talking at all is still weird. Something is off by the whole encounter.
Why did the first couple have the conversation in the first place?
It’s a serpent, not an angel.
It’s an animal that just starts talking?
Why didn’t they go to God, who they knew personally and enjoyed frequent walks in the garden discussing all sorts of things with and just ask him, “Hey God, what’s with this talking creature?
Did you make him?
Should we listen to him?”
Because they apparently lacked discernment, they just went along with the whole fruit conversation.
That’s it?
Might there already have been a seed of discontent within the two humans before the serpent encounter?
He evidently was speaking to some sort of dissatisfaction they were having with life as it was in the garden at the time.
When dealing with evil originating ideas, I think it boils down to this.
They are always about elevating the ego.
They want to convince us we deserve something for nothing that is completely separated from truth and reality.
They go against the truth that there are healthy reasons for work. In fact it is critical in shaping our character.
Maintaining a discipline of thankfulness for the discernment that comes from seeking to know God more and more every day results in a particular way of living.
It opens our eyes to being able to see, not only the world as it is, but also hints of important spiritual activities behind the scenes.
For example, those with good discernment know that, in the end, God wins.