I continue in the four-week Advent writing series by meditating upon the praise we can offer during this sacred season. If you missed the first writing, you can find it by clicking the link below:

Week 1

The word Advent literally means “coming.” Advent is a season of hope, of anticipation, and of waiting upon the coming of Jesus, the Messiah who was promised long before He came.

This week points us to the prophet Micah, who foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. In Micah 5:2 we read – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah (pronounced ef-ra-tha), though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as it had been promised 600 year earlier. In this season of hope, of anticipation, of waiting, we can shout forth praises, because in a world full of broken promises and dashed hopes, we have a Father who keeps His word and we have a Messiah who brings light into a dark world!

“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” Psalm 146:1-2.

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If you are an adult and someone calls you or your actions childish, that is most often used in a negative connotation. It implies some level of immaturity or lack of responsible behavior. It is an unfavorable quality. If someone said to me, “You never taking responsibility for your actions and always blaming others is very childish,” I can tell you this, I would likely not take too kindly to those hearing words, even if they were completely true. We don’t like to be looked at as childish. And if truth be told, being told we are childish often makes us response in a way that does nothing other than show even more childish immaturity.

On the other hand, if someone calls me childlike, I would find some level of joy in that. It could mean that I don’t have the high level of skepticism or cynicism that often comes in adulthood. Childlike is marked by innocence, delight, trust, imagination, wonder and amazement. Children are humble, vulnerable, dependent, seeking. They are so innocent. They are completely trusting of the adults in their lives. Their zeal, their laughter, is infectious.

Our granddaughters often enjoy the simplest of things. Finding a golf ball in our yard gives them so much joy. When I find one buried in the grass, I pick it up and put it in the basket on the patio with little or no emotion. Just another bad golf shot I think to myself. I must admit, though, I do find great satisfaction in getting golf balls out of the pond with my handy dandy ball retriever. You might say I am childlike in those moments.

Let’s turn to the pages of scripture and look at an interaction between Jesus and his disciples. This interaction comes on the heels of Jesus having told his disciples that following him is costly (Matthew 16:24-26) and also about his pending suffering and death (Matthew 16:21-23; 17:22-23). This costly discipleship is defined by denying oneself (turning away from our natural human sinful inclination toward selfishness and self-centeredness) and taking up our cross (dying to self so as to absolutely surrender to God.)

Here is what Jesus said – “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 18:1-3). The Greek words used in v.3 for never are ou mē (meaning no not). This double negative strengthens the denial; in no case, not ever!  

The disciples, hearing of Jesus’ pending death and his proclamation about the kingdom of heaven drawing near, seemingly were still overly preoccupied with their status in this kingdom, i.e., their greatness. In response, Jesus critically examines their question by use of a little child. A child in the ancient world was without status, not great in any fashion whatsoever, totally dependent upon others to care for them. And I am sure like children today, children of that day were also full of wonder and amazement. Maybe they even found joy in picking up golf balls!

Jesus did not call the disciples (or us today) to childlike faith. That kind of faith we can conjure up on our own. He did, however, call the disciples (and us today) to be childlike, not concerned about greatness, fully dependent upon him, filled with wonder and amazement.

So, in this Advent season, no matter your age, are you willing to fully surrender to the lordship and friendship of Jesus? Wait? What? Jesus our friend? See John 15:14-15. Are you filled with wonder and amazement? Are you eager be or become childlike again?

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Yesterday I wrote about gaining wisdom. However, not just any wisdom, but rather, the wisdom of God (click link to read). Simply put, godly wisdom comes from God and it honors God. Today I want to look at gaining discernment. In contrast to wisdom, which is often defined as a deep understanding or application of knowledge being able to determine what should be, I view discernment as the ability make sound (wise) judgments by perceiving what might not be obvious. While wisdom and discernment are coupled together, they are also distinct from one another. I believe that to judge things wisely (discern), we first need wisdom.  

Assuming my definition of discernment is correct, then spiritual discernment is the ability to know something (what is) through the power of the Holy Spirit. An example of this is found in the interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus says this to her – “The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband” (John 4:18). How did Jesus know that? Had he previously met all five men? Probably not. Instead, through Spirit-initiated discernment, Jesus “knew” what is; that this woman had been married five times.

You say, of course Jesus “knew” that, He is God. But me, I don’t have that same ability or access to the mind of God. I will push back against that idea. It might be we lack because we don’t ask. The psalmist prayed “Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in your commandments” (Psalm 119:66 NASB). In this verse, the word judgement comes from the Hebrew word ta’am, which means to taste; figuratively, to perceive. Another way to say the same thing: to (figuratively) perceive or evaluate, by reason, discretion or judgment. This is the same root word we find in Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Wisdom and discernment are often linked together throughout the pages of scripture. I find a good differentiation of the two in Hosea 14:9 – “Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Another version – “Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them” (HCSB).

Proverbs 2 gives us the recipe for gaining God’s discernment (and wisdom). We are told that if we receive God’s words and treasure up his commandments (v.1), if we make our ear attentive to wisdom and our heart inclined to understanding (v.2), if we call out for insight (v.3), if we seek it with the same passion and diligence as when looking for hidden treasures (v.4), then, first, we will understand the fear [awe, reverence] of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (v.5), and after that, this promise from God – “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (v.6).    

As I said in yesterday’s writing regarding wisdom, we do not get God’s discernment as some grab and go transaction. Instead, it comes through walking hand in hand with him. It comes by doing the very things that help us better know God. It comes through humility. It comes in quietness. It comes by being able to learn and hear God’s voice among the endless voices of life. It comes by asking.  

Are you hungering and thirsting to be wise and insightful? What are you doing to gain the best wisdom and best discernment? That process begins with a willingness on our part to tap into all that our good good God desires to give us!    

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