Tag: discern

December 29 – Essential Understanding

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” – Hosea 14:9 (ESV)

For those who need a promise from God that will help them in their daily here’s one found in the book of Hosea. He was the last to prophesy before Israel’s northern kingdom fell to Assyria. In the last verse in the book we find a promise. Like other promises it has consequences or blessings. Many of the promises God gives us in the Bible are instructions regarding how we respond to the wisdom. Hosea cautions us with the this thought, the wise can understand and the discerning can know that whatever the Lord does is right. When we learn from reading or preaching what the Lord wants and promises us, we can know it is right for God does not instruct us to do what is wrong, He cannot. So the conclusion is this: faith believers are upright in their belief and so they guide their lives by God’s instructions. However not all peoples are upright and obedient. Some go their own way plotting their own course and the result is a life of stumbling over the will of God. Why? Because in their refusal and rebellion they fail to understand God’s promises and fail to be discerning.  

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November 5 – Seek to Have

“If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.  Proverbs 2:4-5  (NASB)

Yesterday’s promise from God was what comes from fearing the LORD God – a start at knowledge and wisdom.  Today’s verse tells us the promise for those who seek wisdom as if it is a precious metal. But the verses before, (Proverbs 2:1-3) give us more on how we can understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.  There are six actions that proceed seeking knowledge as if it is as precious as silver.  Receive the Word of God; Treasure up God’s commandments; Open our ears to what wisdom is saying; Have a heart to receive understanding; Call out for discernment and Speak out for understanding. Effort must be expended for one to become wise. Getting wisdom involves openness, retention, hearing with the ear, applying with the heart, requesting, and diligent searching. This is the pathway to possessing understanding and finding the knowledge of God. A person who strives for wisdom will find that wisdom will enter their heart. Gaining wisdom requires diligence on our part in pursuing God’s will; yet wisdom is a gift, a promise from God. Possession of such knowledge from God results in inner joy and Godly pleasure.

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