What is necessary in order to be a faithful Christian? Many answers could be given to that question, but how often do we think about “discernment” as a critical Christian quality?
Paul prayed for his brethren in Philippi, “that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9). God ties our discernment to our growth in “more and more knowledge,” and He calls for us to grow to have “all” discernment. The Christian is faced daily with moral decisions in the midst of an immoral world, and he must be able to “discern” (or “distinguish,” NASB) “between good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). That level of discernment is developed when we mature in our Christian faith through greater study and knowledge of God’s Word.
Every day you must discern between right and wrong, truth and error. You could just go with what everyone else is doing. Or, you could “approve the things that are excellent” in God’s eyes and be prepared for “the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10). Choose wisely.