The thing is, it’s not as though all the people are out for your downfall.
On the contrary, quite a number of people weighing in with comments and observations are largely doing so out of interest. Some of them are even doing it out of concern. It’s because these are the presenting factors that at first you’ll be keen to be open to receive those comments.
After all, they don’t have to invest the time in sharing those comments and observations with you. There have been times when you had hoped people would offer insights that might have prevented you making a silly mistakes or plain wrong moves. So to be on the receiving end of folks wishing to share to help, it’s something to appreciate and consider.
The challenge comes when there’s a growing realisation that not everything that you’re told – even with those good intentions – is good for you or more importantly the best for you. Someone’s seemingly sage suggestions shared solemnly may actually just turn out to be regurgitated hurt expressed more out of self than it is to help you. It sounds good, it’s practical and it’s measured in the approach, but taking time to check it carefully will determine that the content does not tally with godly wisdom and fruit that emerges from being absorbed in spiritual and heavenly values.
Therein lies the issue – taking the time to check it. Not just taking the time to check it, but applying the right method by which to check it. Living fr Jesus is about acknowledging the truth that you have the right method within you to check what’s attempting to reside in you. The savvy Spirit of God that you were given is clearly able to guide you in terms of how to deal with what you’ve been given. He is very sensitive and attuned to what pleases the Father and glorifies the Son as opposed to straying from the will of the Father and satisfying the flesh. He is far more aware and capable than we are with our rational mind and set way of taking things.
Submitting to His indwelling influence can allow you to grow in discernment. It’s not about rejecting everything someone says necessarily, it’s about applying that filter – Is it true? Is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it excellent? Is it admirable? Is it lovely? Is it praiseworthy? Will it help to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and/or self-control? Is this for the honour and praise of God?
That submission to the influence and application of the filter is a growing thing, not instantaneous. It’s decision by decision and step after step. It’s lesson learnt after lesson learnt and it’s gained through enjoying ongoing engagement with the Father and Son by the Spirit. That’s both in private secluded times and in conversation with those in the family of faith as well as those divine encounters you can get through the apparently incidental episodes of life.
This is useful to know in the committed journey to follow Jesus because there is a lot of material of good intention floating around waiting for you to take it on that’s not actually designed to benefit you. Even if it benefited the person saying it is no guarantee to suggest it’s meant to be for you. The only way to be able to pick out what is for you and live by it is to grow in discernment.
It’s in this way that you don’t have to suffer as others have to their downfall.
(Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 