"Do not move the ancient boundary, which your fathers have set. "
Sipping tea in the candlelight of the twilight of evening found me cherishing time with a dear friend who has had a godly influence on my life for many years. We were reflecting on the many ways we have grieved over observing more and more compromise in the lives of young Christians over the many decades of our lives. A weakening of the faith and of the faithful; too many stories of leaders compromising and Christians being yawningly boring, ineffectual, and weak has become epic in our lives—and in the news.
“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6
Discernment is the ability to judge well between truth and vanity. Discernment between good and evil and the willingness to obey whatever God requires is an evidence of a person walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and following God's word. However, many do not even know what the word of God says anymore, so they follow online wisdom.
I am concerned about the extremes I see on the internet and in situations around me. God's word provides wisdom, boundaries, and insight for each day of our lives. Boundaries and fences and hedges are established for the protection of a land or home, serving as the definition of its realm. When you remove fences and borders, all sorts of havoc reigns. Boundaries provide definition and security. Daily, our culture cries out for the compromise and moving of boundaries in our lives. Without a depth of training in the Word, many are caught up in alluring messages of either legalism and judgment, or to compromise and compliance with less-than-Biblical ideals.
As I have said many times, in the absence of Biblical conviction, people go the way of culture.
When you don’t know what to think, you follow whoever’s voice is loudest or most persuasive. Paul warned us that toward the end times, people would want to have their ears tickled with messages that pleased them.
From the beginning, as with Eve, women and men alike have been seeking wisdom from other places, looking for answers to validate their whims and desires from the world. But even as it turned out disastrously for Eve, and all those who have followed lies throughout history, so it will be for those who listen to and are allured by the voices of the world today. Do not be fooled!
To live a balanced life, between the false promises of a legalistic, behavior, rule-based life or the permissive, “it doesn’t matter---give yourself a break,” culture, we must be women who are seeking the heart of Jesus, the truth of scripture, and the teachings of those who have lived a proven life.
Living in the tension of walking with freedom and holiness requires us to know our God, so that we can resist the voices that sway us one way or the other.
Now is the time to follow Him!
For further study:
1. Proverbs 16:16
"How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!"
Where do you look for advice and wisdom? Is it a reliable source? Do you know the reality of the lives of the people you are following? Are they seasoned, wise, have lived a story worth following? What areas do you need to find discernment in regarding your philosophy of life, motherhood, marriage? How are you making God's word a priority every day? Plan it in your week.
2. James 1:5
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [a]without reproach, and it will be given to him."
To hear God's voice requires time invested quietly with Him. How do you need to reorganize your priorities to make time each day to hear God's Word? What areas do you need to ask wisdom of God?
3. James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere."
I especially love this verse. Pure. peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield--this is what the brother of Jesus said was a picture of wisdom. When we are trusting God, His fruit of wisdom will flow through the moments of our lives.
In what areas do you need to see wisdom grow? How are you growing in the qualities of wisdom mentioned above?