The Way of Discernment (Day 1)
Called to Discern
The most misunderstood verse in Scripture might just be Matthew 7:1. We've been taught that judging is always wrong, but what if Jesus was teaching us HOW to judge rightly, not telling us to never discern at all?
Matthew 7:1-2 (ESV)
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
Devotional Thought
Can I just say something that might surprise you? Jesus actually commands us to judge. I know that sounds incredible given what we've been taught, but stay with me.
Matthew 7:1 has become the favorite verse of people who don't want anyone pointing out anything wrong in their lives. We live in a culture where disagreeing with someone is considered offensive, where words are treated like violence, and where tolerance means you must accept everything without question. So when Jesus says "judge not," we think He's telling us to keep our mouths shut and let everyone do whatever they want.
But here's what I need you to know. Just a few chapters later in John 7:24, that same Jesus says, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." So is Jesus contradicting Himself? Absolutely not. Jesus is dealing with HOW we judge, not IF we should judge.
Think about it just like a farmer examining seed. You don't plant seed without first inspecting it. You judge whether it's good seed or bad seed, healthy or diseased. That's not condemnation, that's identification. You're simply recognizing what's true so you can make wise choices about your crop. In the same way, discernment is not about condemning people. It's about identifying truth from error, right from wrong, healthy from unhealthy.
The apostle Paul understood this perfectly. In Galatians 6:1, he writes, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." Notice Paul says to restore the person. But you can't restore someone if you never identify that they need restoration in the first place. That requires judgment, discernment, a clear assessment of reality.
So why do we struggle with this so much? Because the word "judge" carries the weight of condemnation in our minds. When we hear "don't judge," we think Jesus is saying we can never evaluate, never assess, never identify anything wrong. But that's not what He's teaching at all. Discernment is not condemnation. Discernment is identification.
Right now, the church desperately needs people who can discern truth from error. We need believers who love people enough to speak truth, who care enough to identify when someone is walking away from God's best. We live in a world where nobody wants to correct anyone because we've confused love with approval. But real love tells the truth.
Real love identifies the problem so restoration can happen.
Here's the tension we have to hold. We ARE called to discern. The question is never IF we should judge, but HOW we judge. And that's where most of us get it wrong. We judge with dirty lenses. We try to help others see clearly when we can't even see our own issues.
Tomorrow we'll discover why our vision stays blurred and what we must remove before we can truly help anyone else.
Matthew 7:1 has become the favorite verse of people who don't want anyone pointing out anything wrong in their lives. We live in a culture where disagreeing with someone is considered offensive, where words are treated like violence, and where tolerance means you must accept everything without question. So when Jesus says "judge not," we think He's telling us to keep our mouths shut and let everyone do whatever they want.
But here's what I need you to know. Just a few chapters later in John 7:24, that same Jesus says, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." So is Jesus contradicting Himself? Absolutely not. Jesus is dealing with HOW we judge, not IF we should judge.
Think about it just like a farmer examining seed. You don't plant seed without first inspecting it. You judge whether it's good seed or bad seed, healthy or diseased. That's not condemnation, that's identification. You're simply recognizing what's true so you can make wise choices about your crop. In the same way, discernment is not about condemning people. It's about identifying truth from error, right from wrong, healthy from unhealthy.
The apostle Paul understood this perfectly. In Galatians 6:1, he writes, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." Notice Paul says to restore the person. But you can't restore someone if you never identify that they need restoration in the first place. That requires judgment, discernment, a clear assessment of reality.
So why do we struggle with this so much? Because the word "judge" carries the weight of condemnation in our minds. When we hear "don't judge," we think Jesus is saying we can never evaluate, never assess, never identify anything wrong. But that's not what He's teaching at all. Discernment is not condemnation. Discernment is identification.
Right now, the church desperately needs people who can discern truth from error. We need believers who love people enough to speak truth, who care enough to identify when someone is walking away from God's best. We live in a world where nobody wants to correct anyone because we've confused love with approval. But real love tells the truth.
Real love identifies the problem so restoration can happen.
Here's the tension we have to hold. We ARE called to discern. The question is never IF we should judge, but HOW we judge. And that's where most of us get it wrong. We judge with dirty lenses. We try to help others see clearly when we can't even see our own issues.
Tomorrow we'll discover why our vision stays blurred and what we must remove before we can truly help anyone else.
Application Questions
- When have you avoided speaking truth to someone because you confused love with approval? What was the result of your silence?
- Think about a time when someone lovingly corrected you. What made their correction helpful rather than condemning?
Today's Challenge
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one person in your life who needs loving discernment. Don't approach them yet. Just pray and ask God to prepare both of you for a conversation marked by grace and truth.
Today's Prayer
Father, I confess that I've misunderstood what You mean by judgment. I've either condemned others harshly or refused to speak truth in love. Teach me the difference between discernment and condemnation. Give me courage to identify truth and grace to speak it well. Show me where my own vision is clouded so I can help others see clearly. In Jesus' name, amen.
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