21 Nov December 4th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

DISCERN WHAT IS BEST

Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

The word discern comes from the Latin word discermere which means to separate or part.  To discern requires knowledge and insight.  A discerning Christian strives to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. John MacArthur says that “discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically.”

In today’s devotional verse St. Paul prays that the Philippian Christians are filled with knowledge and insight so that they are able to “ . . .  discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

Christian discernment’s source is Jesus Christ.  Jesus says, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you.” (John 16:12-14)

The Holy Scriptures have been given to you to enable you to make “careful distinctions about what is true.”  Jesus prays to His heavenly Father to “Sanctify them (you) by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)  2 Samuel 7:28 says that God’s word is good for you.

The Holy Spirit through the gospel will give you “. . . the knowledge and depth of insight you need, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, grant me the knowledge and depth of insight I need to discern what is true and right for Jesus’ sake.  In His holy name.  Amen.

Holy Spirit, light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away, Turn the darkness into day.

Let me see my Savior’s face, Let me all His beauty trace;

Show those glorious truths to me Which are only known to thee.

Holy Spirit, power divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

In Thy mercy pity me, From sin’s bondage set me free.

Holy Spirit, joy divine, Cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Yield a sacred, settled peace, Let it grow and still increase.

Holy Spirit, all divine, dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down ev’ry idol throne, Reign supreme, and reign alone.

(LSB 496)