Embracing Wisdom: The Power of Discernment

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment as the Heart of Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability to discern differences in people, moments, and opportunities. It is not just about recognizing these differences but valuing them. This discernment can lead to significant life changes and is a continuous pursuit that requires teaching and emphasis. The ability to see what others might overlook is a gift that can transform lives. By valuing differences, we can appreciate the unique contributions of others and make informed decisions that align with our values and goals. [01:10]

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity." (Proverbs 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you had to make a decision. How did you discern the differences in the options available, and what did you learn from the outcome?

Day 2: The Reflection of Values in Investment

The difference in people often lies in what they value most, which is evident in how they invest their time and resources. This investment is a reflection of their priorities and can reveal much about their character and purpose. By examining where we allocate our time and resources, we can gain insight into what truly matters to us and whether it aligns with our spiritual and personal goals. [06:55]

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your current investments of time and resources. What do they reveal about your values, and how might you adjust them to better reflect your spiritual priorities?

Day 3: The Pursuit of Meaningful Rewards

Who you pursue and what you pursue them for can reveal your character and agenda. Pursuit is essential for receiving, and it is through reaching out that we can achieve irreplaceable rewards. By focusing on meaningful pursuits, we can align our actions with our values and experience the fulfillment that comes from achieving our goals. [16:14]

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered." (1 Chronicles 16:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one meaningful pursuit you have been neglecting. What steps can you take today to actively pursue it and align it with your spiritual journey?

Day 4: The Art of Ignoring the Unimportant

There are things in life that require no time or energy. Learning to ignore what does not matter is crucial for focusing on what truly does. This discernment can save time and energy, allowing for a more purposeful life. By letting go of distractions, we can concentrate on what truly matters and make progress toward our goals. [25:44]

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure." (Proverbs 4:25-26, ESV)

Reflection: What is one distraction in your life that you can choose to ignore today? How will this decision help you focus on what truly matters?

Day 5: Embracing Discomfort for Growth

The willingness to walk away from comfort and familiarity is essential for growth and promotion. Discomfort is often the seed for significant change, and embracing it can lead to new opportunities and a brighter future. By stepping out of our comfort zones, we can experience personal and spiritual growth that propels us forward. [38:06]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel too comfortable. What steps can you take to embrace discomfort and pursue growth in this area?

Sermon Summary

Wisdom is the principal thing, and it is the ability to discern differences. This discernment is crucial in recognizing the differences in people, moments, and opportunities. Wisdom allows us to see what others might overlook, and it is this ability that can lead to significant changes in our lives. It is not just about recognizing differences but also about valuing them. The difference in people often lies in what they value most, and this is evident in how they invest their time and resources.

Wisdom can come from various sources: genetics, training, experience, and even pain. It is a continuous pursuit, and the Bible speaks of wisdom that brings wealth, favor, and life changes. The ability to see differences is what sets people apart. For instance, some people can discern the difference in opportunities, like the story of a friend who chose cash over land, not realizing the land would become part of Disney World. This illustrates the importance of seeing beyond the immediate and recognizing the potential in opportunities.

The sermon emphasizes the need to teach and stress the importance of recognizing differences. It is through this recognition that we can understand our unique value and the value of others. The Bible is a guide to understanding these differences, and it is through wisdom that we can navigate life’s challenges. The ability to discern differences is not just about recognizing them but also about acting on them. It is about pursuing what is valuable and ignoring what is not. It is about walking away from what holds us back and embracing what propels us forward.

Key Takeaways

1. The Essence of Wisdom: Wisdom is the ability to discern differences in people, moments, and opportunities. It is not just about recognizing these differences but valuing them. This discernment can lead to significant life changes and is a continuous pursuit that requires teaching and emphasis. [01:10]
2. Value and Investment: The difference in people often lies in what they value most, which is evident in how they invest their time and resources. This investment is a reflection of their priorities and can reveal much about their character and purpose. [06:55]
3. Pursuit and Reward: Who you pursue and what you pursue them for can reveal your character and agenda. Pursuit is essential for receiving, and it is through reaching out that we can achieve irreplaceable rewards. [16:14]
4. Ignoring the Unimportant: There are things in life that require no time or energy. Learning to ignore what does not matter is crucial for focusing on what truly does. This discernment can save time and energy, allowing for a more purposeful life. [25:44]
5. Walking Away for Growth: The willingness to walk away from comfort and familiarity is essential for growth and promotion. Discomfort is often the seed for significant change, and embracing it can lead to new opportunities and a brighter future. [38:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - The Principle of Wisdom
[00:29] - Recognizing Differences
[01:10] - Sources of Wisdom
[01:58] - Wisdom and Life Changes
[02:34] - Seeing Differences in People
[03:24] - Teaching and Stressing Differences
[04:15] - Continuous Need for Discernment
[06:18] - Value and Investment
[07:11] - Listening for Differences
[09:19] - Hidden Wisdom
[10:52] - Increasing Discernment
[11:55] - Rewarding Differences
[12:26] - Biblical Importance of Differences
[13:41] - Noticing Differences in Others

Sermon Clips

Wisdom is the ability to see difference. Sometimes there's a portion of wisdom that does come genetically. There's a portion of wisdom that comes through training. There's wisdom that comes through experience. There's wisdom that comes through pain. Like the child that doesn't know that that stove is hot but when it touches it the experience of pain triggers this is different. [00:01:10]

The Bible says there is a wisdom that produces wealth, wisdom that produces favor, wisdom that produces your wisdom decides the changes of your life. Change is not guaranteed. Often it's eventual. You can accelerate change through discovery and through wisdom. But wisdom is the ability to see difference. [00:01:56]

The difference in people is what they value most. The basic difference in people is what we put a value on. I have relatives who think nothing of spending $500 on a gun but they wouldn't dream of spending $30 on a book. It's what they value. I have friends that'll spend $2,000 on a suit but they wouldn't dream of buying a cassette tape for $59. [00:06:55]

Who you pursue for conversation, who you pursue for counsel, who you pursue for advice. The price for receiving is asking. The price for receiving is reaching. Who does your family see you pursuing for knowledge, mentorship, experience? Most people are waiting for someone to pursue them. [00:16:14]

There must be some things in your life that you give no time to, no energy to. President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush both made this statement that they look at a problem and decide how much of their time it is worth. Some problems are two minutes, some are five, some will be 30. [00:25:44]

The price of the future is the present. You can't enter Canaan until you walk away from Egypt. There's something in your present that's holding you. There's a magnetism for comfort. What are you willing to walk away from? Ruth walked away from Moab, the place of her upbringing, to embrace Naomi who was her link to Boaz. [00:38:06]

The difference in people is what they're willing to walk away from. Joseph walked away from Pterer's wife. Samson wouldn't walk away from Delilah. The widow of Zerapath walked away from her last meal and God fed her through the famine. [00:37:43]

The difference in people is who they believe. It's different than trust. I may believe what someone says but not trust their character or their competence but believe what they say. The difference in people is who they have chosen to believe. [00:41:01]

The difference in people is who they're willing to protect. David was spitten in his conscience because they didn't protect the position of Saul. Remember when Saul was in a sleep in a cave, David slipped in and cut the edge of his robe off and then he stood the next day saying "I could have killed you." [00:55:53]

The difference in people is where they invest their time. There's men who spend hours and hours working overtime but never talk to their child. There's mothers who spend hours on the job but never train their child. The difference in people is where they invest their time. [01:12:05]

The difference in people is whose instruction they obey. A collection of instructions is between your present and your future. Every instruction brings you closer to your dream, your goal, your plans. The difference in people is who they're willing to obey. [01:13:15]

Wisdom is the ability to recognize difference. Right and wrong, evil in righteousness, difference in people, difference in accountants, difference in a moment like the blind man crying out to Jesus. The dominant purpose for wisdom. [01:27:02]

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