John 7:24
"Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly."
In the three verses preceding this one, Jesus points out that there are valid circumstances in which God's law is not followed. It was as if Jesus was saying, "Life has some grey, not just black and white." It is because of this grey that we even need the word "discernment" in our vocabulary. I believe it is by growing closer and closer to God that we can better discern His will.
Holy Lord, draw me closer, so I may understand and follow. Help me to see your will when all I can see is grey. Amen
Becky, transforming
Thursday, May 4th, 2023
John 7:21-23, 24
Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
This is discernment at its best. The Jews considered circumcising on the sabbath a lawful Sabbath activity. Circumcision was a male child’s introduction to entering the covenant. circumcision is a positive commandment while workin…
John 7: (21–23), 24
From The Message: don’t be hypercritical; use your head and heart to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right.
NLT: Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.
TLB: Think this through and you will see that I am right.
I see that these verses are as much about quick judgment as they are about discernment. I know I am often guilty about judging well before I have all the facts that I need to understand the person or the situation. We all need to learn to be proactive and not reactive in many situation’s. It is something I am working on every day.
Prayer: gracious God, I need your help, often,…
John 7:24
”You Christians are so judgmental!” We hear it all the time, but as Jesus explains, judging correctly can be done. This is where discernment comes in. Judgment can be and is weaponized by those who claim to be followers of Jesus as well as those who reject Jesus and avidly cling to secular religion and all its tendencies to cancel people with ideas or a worldview contrary to theirs. To judge correctly is to apply, as best as one is able, an understanding of God’s word and precepts to the situation at hand. If my understanding is challenged as faulty, it is my responsibility to use the gift of discernment to try and sort things out. My mind…