A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Wednesday, June
5, 2019
Yesterday
morning we passed this rural farm complete with silos,
barns, pond, livestock, and planted fields in Lebanon
County.
"Trained
To Discern Good And Evil"
Message
summary: The
need "to
discern good
from evil"
is ongoing and
will surely
increase as we
deal with "a
spirit of
delusion" (2
Thessalonians
2:1-12).
Listen
to our message on your
audio player.
"But
solid food is for
the mature, who
because of
practice have
their senses
trained to discern
good and evil"
(Hebrews 5:14).
Stephen
is the youngest son
of our friends Jesse
and Anna Ruth. He's
a toddler now and,
with six older
brothers and
sisters, he has lots
of social life. He
especially likes
bananas and raisins.
We were visiting
with them on their
porch and observed
Stephen as
he learned a life
lesson.Their
farm has goats and
goat droppings
resemble raisins,
especially to a
toddler. (See
here
for photo Note:
That's not my
hand!) Sighting
what appeared to
be a tasty raisin,
Stephen scooped
down to pick up
the wrong organic
substance before
his alarmed
parents and
siblings
intervened. Using
toddler language
they taught him an
early lesson in
visual discernment
of that which is
edible and that
which is to be
rejected.
We learn
important
discernment
lessons all
through life. As
we age the need
for discernment in
many ways keeps
growing especially
in what has been
described as our
post-Christian
age.*
Discernment
means "the ability
to judge well". In
a Christian sense
we apply
discernment in
obtaining
spiritual
understanding and
direction. Bible
teacher John
MacArthur states,
"In its simplest
definition,
discernment is
nothing more than
the ability to
decide between
truth and error,
right and wrong.
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."
The
daily text
describes the
spiritually mature
as those "who
because of
practice have
their senses
trained to
discern good and
evil". Other
versions state, "have
their powers of
discernment
trained by
constant
practice to
distinguish good
from evil"
(ESV) or "who
by constant use
have trained
themselves to
distinguish good
from evil"
(NIV).
Conversion is the miracle of a moment; maturing takes a lifetime. As a maturing believer I want to be able to discern good from evil. The world is full of obfuscation and we so need discernment. We all have a part in this as we choose to regularly feed on God's Word and apply it to everyday living. This is the sense of the phrase "who because of practice have their senses trained".
The need "to discern good from evil" is ongoing and will surely increase as we deal with "a spirit of delusion" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Our source and guide must be the unchangeable standards of God's Holy Word, not the fickle opinions of popular culture. Going with the latter would be much like a dog chasing his tail in circles. Don't we see this a lot in entertainment, politics, the media, education and, sadly even in religious settings?
The Holman New Testament Commentary makes this point,
The
daily text
describes the
spiritually mature
as those "who
because of
practice have
their senses
trained to
discern good and
evil". Other
versions state, "have
their powers of
discernment
trained by
constant
practice to
distinguish good
from evil"
(ESV) or "who
by constant use
have trained
themselves to
distinguish good
from evil"
(NIV).Conversion is the miracle of a moment; maturing takes a lifetime. As a maturing believer I want to be able to discern good from evil. The world is full of obfuscation and we so need discernment. We all have a part in this as we choose to regularly feed on God's Word and apply it to everyday living. This is the sense of the phrase "who because of practice have their senses trained".
The need "to discern good from evil" is ongoing and will surely increase as we deal with "a spirit of delusion" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Our source and guide must be the unchangeable standards of God's Holy Word, not the fickle opinions of popular culture. Going with the latter would be much like a dog chasing his tail in circles. Don't we see this a lot in entertainment, politics, the media, education and, sadly even in religious settings?
The Holman New Testament Commentary makes this point,
"Christians
are able to
distinguish
between good and
evil. The terms
'good' and
'evil' may have
both a moral
sense and a
theological
sense.
Christians are
those who can
spot moral evil
and avoid it.
They can see
moral good and
attach
themselves to
it. Christians
also can
distinguish
between true and
false doctrine.
They will turn
aside from the
false and
faithfully
follow the true.
Living the
Christian life
demands the
spiritual skills
of stamina seen
physically in a
long-distance
runner.
Unswerving,
relentless
applications of
Christian truth
and practice
will equip us
for a lifetime
of usefulness
which will
continue into
eternity."
Phillip Hughes, in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, comments,
"Good
and evil should
not be understood
merely in an
ethical sense here
as signifying good
conduct and evil
conduct, but more
particularly, as
the context
requires, in a
comprehensive
theological sense,
namely, of good
and evil, or true
and false
doctrine, which
would include
moral teaching.
The power of
discernment is
something very
necessary in those
who are "mature"
enough to be
"teachers," and
something to be
expected of those
who, like the
recipients of this
letter, have been
members of the
Christian church
for a number of
years."
Obfuscation
is all around us.
How is your
discernment today?
Are you in regular
training? Are you
actively
practicing your
faith? Are you
discerning good
from evil? This is
a critical
spiritual
exercise. "Woe
to those who
call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness
for light and
light for
darkness, who
put bitter for
sweet and sweet
for bitter"
(Isaiah 5:20).
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, just
as we hunger
and thirst for
physical
substance,
intensify our
hunger and
thirst for
godly
discernment,
spiritual
knowledge, and
righteous
living. Jesus
declared,
"Blessed are
they who
hunger and
thirst after
righteousness."
Only as we
regularly
nurture our
spiritual
appetite will
we delve into
the riches of
the wisdom and
knowledge of
God. Through
the daily
grind of life
the
inexhaustible
truths
revealed in
Your Word
brighten our
outlook and
make certain
of our eternal
hope, while
they also
teach us
discernment so
that we know
good from
evil, those
who are
genuine from
those who are
impostors.
Jesus is the
living bread
for hungry
souls so it is
our prayer
that we look
to Him to
satisfy our
spiritual
hunger. Amen.*
Postchristianity
is the loss of
the primacy of
the Christian
worldview in
political
affairs,
especially in
the Western
world where
Christianity
had previously
flourished, in
favor of
alternative
worldviews
such as
secularism or
nationalism.
It includes
personal world
views,
ideologies,
religious
movements or
societies that
are no longer
rooted in the
language and
assumptions of
Christianity,
at least
explicitly,
although they
had previously
been in an
environment of
ubiquitous
Christianity
Further
study:
Obfuscation
describes what
is going on
all around us,
especially in
government,
education and
media. The
Merriam
Webster
dictionary
defines
obfuscate in
this way: "to
make
(something)
more difficult
to
understand";
"to be
evasive,
unclear, or
confusing and
uses this
example,
"Politicians
keep
obfuscating
the issues."
Wikipedia
describes it
this way, "the
hiding of
intended
meaning in
communication,
making
communication
confusing,
willfully
ambiguous, or
harder to
interpret."
Let me add
that in many
cases it's
outright
lying, though
we often hear
the word,
"mis-statement"
or "mis-spoke
"in place of
"lying"!
Another
view of the
Lebanon County
farm we passed
yesterday. We
visit a
company each
week in a
rural part of
the county and
sure enjoy the
scenery as we
go.
For
several weeks
we've been
watching the
progression of
life in a
robin nest
built on our
back deck over
our porch
light, from
eggs to tiny
open mouths to
this very
crowded nest
late yesterday
afternoon.
A
literal empty
nest this
morning. I saw
the fledglings
on the ground.
I
have plans to
replace this
light which no
longer works
so I was
waiting for
the present
residents to
leave. They
have made
quite a mess
on the house's
trim!
We
saw this gift
bag in a store
yesterday.
What merchants
won't do to
sell
merchandise!
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
This Sunday
evening we plan to attend a
Booth Brothers gospel
concert in Lebanon, PA. Any
local readers who may be
interested in attending this
concert and others in the
summer "Music In The Park"
series see this site.
These concerts have no
admission charge and a
free-will offering is
received. The concerts are
held in an outside
amphitheater in a beautiful
setting.
Finally today:
Yesterday we
shared a gardening quiz.
See yesterday's
message if you would
like to take it.
Scroll down
below all the footers for
the
answers to the quiz in
yellow highlight
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
We realize there are many fine
ministries and causes requesting support
but if the Lord would lead you we surely need
and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners.Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due to the
convenience, for international supporters, and
for those who may not be concerned regarding
receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here
to send an offering using PayPal. This
will open to a page that states "Brooksyne
Weber"Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2019 Stephen
C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Here are the answers to the gardening quiz (answers are in bold)
1.
Mulch
is used to smother weeds, beautify flower
beds and base of trees, and help retain
moisture.
2. Old garbage can be turned into compost which is used to enrich soil and stimulate plant growth.
3. What pesty insect has a problem with drinking beer, much to its demise? Slugs.
4. A product that helps plants grow in quality and quantity is called fertilizer.
5. Name two early spring vegetables that will withstand light frosts. Lettuce, cilantro, spinach, peas, broccoli, onions, & a few others.
6. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows your area to be in which growing zone? #6b in our area but this will vary depending on where you live. (See here for a zone map for the United States & Canada).
7. The process of the sprouting of a seed is called germination.
8. The method of gardening utilizing only materials derived from living things (i.e. composts & manures) is called organic.
9. The process of digging up a plant and moving it to another location is called transplanting.
10. The science of growing plants in mineral solutions or water, instead of in soil is called hydroponics.
11. A flower that grows only one growing season is called an annual.
12. A plant or ornamental that returns year after year is called a perennial.
2. Old garbage can be turned into compost which is used to enrich soil and stimulate plant growth.
3. What pesty insect has a problem with drinking beer, much to its demise? Slugs.
4. A product that helps plants grow in quality and quantity is called fertilizer.
5. Name two early spring vegetables that will withstand light frosts. Lettuce, cilantro, spinach, peas, broccoli, onions, & a few others.
6. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows your area to be in which growing zone? #6b in our area but this will vary depending on where you live. (See here for a zone map for the United States & Canada).
7. The process of the sprouting of a seed is called germination.
8. The method of gardening utilizing only materials derived from living things (i.e. composts & manures) is called organic.
9. The process of digging up a plant and moving it to another location is called transplanting.
10. The science of growing plants in mineral solutions or water, instead of in soil is called hydroponics.
11. A flower that grows only one growing season is called an annual.
12. A plant or ornamental that returns year after year is called a perennial.