The Lord Wants Us to be Discerning - Leviticus 13 and Matthew 26:26-50
It is very interesting to think about why God gave the priests the task of diagnosing leprosy in the Old Testament times. There was no real practice of medicine, so there were no doctors to do the task. Therefore, God called on the ones who were to be spiritually sensitive and discerning to do the job. Discernment is a virtue. God wants us all to be able to discern the truth or the reality of a situation or human condition. He wants us to be observant and to take enough time to make the right decision. This is what the priests did when it came to leprosy. It was an important decision, because it could effect so many people. The one who had leprosy had to live away from those who were clean. If the priest made a mistake, the condition could spread to other people. It was a serious matter. Today, there are many physical and spiritual matters that call for us to be discerning. We need to listen to God's directions and decide the right course of action, so uncleanness does not spread to others. We need to discern how to stay clean, too. It all goes back to God's Word. That is why Leviticus 13 is in the Bible. God gives us specific instructions for us to follow about many things.
In Matthew 26 Jesus shows us the need for discernment. He met with His disciples for the Lord's Supper or the Last Supper. He told them that they would all stumble because of Him. He knew they were not able to handle the events which were about to take place. He especially knew that Peter was not ready to die for Him at that point. Peter could not even stay awake for one hour to watch and pray, much less die for Jesus. Jesus was not condemning His disciples in this. He was discerning their present spiritual state, and He was trying to get them to understand what was going to happen. Now, in the case of Judas, Jesus knew that he was not a believer, and he would betray Him. Therefore, Jesus was not surprised when he showed up with the soldiers to arrest Him.
What about you and I? Are we as discerning about physical and spiritual things as we should be? Do we stop to examine things closely, or are we too busy? Do we misread people? We all need to listen to the Lord, and ask Him to show us clearly what we need to observe and how we need to act based on our discernment of people and situations. If we don't do this, we will make decisions that effect many people with serious consequences. I hope we will all pray to be more discerning.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 14 and Matthew 26:51-75.
In Matthew 26 Jesus shows us the need for discernment. He met with His disciples for the Lord's Supper or the Last Supper. He told them that they would all stumble because of Him. He knew they were not able to handle the events which were about to take place. He especially knew that Peter was not ready to die for Him at that point. Peter could not even stay awake for one hour to watch and pray, much less die for Jesus. Jesus was not condemning His disciples in this. He was discerning their present spiritual state, and He was trying to get them to understand what was going to happen. Now, in the case of Judas, Jesus knew that he was not a believer, and he would betray Him. Therefore, Jesus was not surprised when he showed up with the soldiers to arrest Him.
What about you and I? Are we as discerning about physical and spiritual things as we should be? Do we stop to examine things closely, or are we too busy? Do we misread people? We all need to listen to the Lord, and ask Him to show us clearly what we need to observe and how we need to act based on our discernment of people and situations. If we don't do this, we will make decisions that effect many people with serious consequences. I hope we will all pray to be more discerning.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Leviticus 14 and Matthew 26:51-75.