Discernment Comes From God Alone

John 6:35-70

Have you ever said, “I wish God would just drop down a big lit neon sign saying, “Do this… Pick this… Don’t do that…?” It seems so simple to us, if God would speak directly to us through a visible, audible and tangible worldly way we would respond with instant favor. However, God did do that with Jesus and those eye witnesses still did not believe. After reading verse 50-59 I can see where they lost their understanding and why they started to grumble and argue. The words Jesus used made no sense to them because they had not received insight and discernment from God to fully understand what Jesus was saying. They were trying so hard to figure out the spiritual meaning from a worldly view they became frustrated. That frustration and the lack of understanding lead to grumbling, complaining, arguing, and an offensive attitude.

God’s Word promises that anyone who asks for wisdom shall receive it {James 1:5}. They forgot to humble themselves to gain wisdom through understanding. We try so hard to figure out the why’s of life, the checklist or instant fix to resolve our complications. We forget to do the one thing God promises: to humble ourselves and asked God for wisdom {Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 1:2; Proverbs 2:2}. If we are to gain wisdom through understanding we must be actively seeking God through His Word. It is that big lit neon sign sent to us along with the Holy Spirit living inside us to give us counsel.

If I could scream one thing to the people I meet, it would be to read God’s Word daily and to ask God to give them insight wisdom and understanding of what they read. God’s Word is sharper than a double edged sword {Hebrews 4:12}, why on earth wouldn’t you pick up that weapon to be victorious. Probably because it seems too easy, yet we don't want to do the effort.

Most people would say time is my big issue. What if you resolved to carve out time and then God took away the complications that were preventing you from having extra time. What if He started using your time for Him and you lived in peace and rest while still doing all the things that time requires of you. Stop arguing, complaining, grumbling and being offended and start seeking God’s Word for answers. What a concept.

Challenge:
1. What are you grumbling about?
2. What are you complaining about?
3. What are you frustrated with?
4. What are you offended by? Why are you offended?
5. Do you desire that lit neon sign? Did you know you already have it?
6. How long has it been since you have specifically asked God for wisdom
with the things that cause you to grumble, to complain, the things that
cause you frustration and the things that offend you?
7. How long has it been since you voiced those things to others? My guess is you instantly talk to others about these things and yet hardly ever sit and take them directly to God or seek His Word for guidance.
8. Do you think you are too busy to read God’s Word?