Knowing The Good From The Bad

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:16,17

I remember having a conversation once with someone about how we know whether something is from God or not. I mean, how do we really, truly know that the advice we are receiving is from God and not from the enemy trying to deceive us?

*smile*

We simply get to know God better.

We spend time in His Word daily, we read it, and then we read it again and again. And though sometimes, it may seem like drudgery and that we're trudging through lists and lists of names and places, our spirit is taking it in. The more we read God's Word, the more it becomes a part of us. It's like watching a movie over and over. You get to know the lines, you know what happens next, and what's going to happen in ten minutes. Perhaps in a conversation with someone you hear someone discussing this very movie, only they recite a quote not quite right, so you call them on it, and deliver the line perfectly. The Bible is the exact same way. While we may not think we know it as well, we will know when we hear something that is wrong. When we hear someone telling something incorrectly or inaccurately, or just plain false, we will know. Our complex minds will pick up instantly that something is not right, and then we will know that the words being delivered are not from God after all.

We will know. And we can have the confidence to know that we will be able to discern the bad from the good when the need arises. The gift of discernment is for all His Children, and we activate that gift by simply diving in to the Precious Word of God. We don't need to fear that we will be steered astray by false teachings and inaccuracy. Our love for God, and His love for us will keep us on the straight and narrow.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11