1 John 3:1-2 English Standard Version

¹ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Recently these devotionals have focused on what unbelievers need to know in order to come to Christ and to know Him. It may seem as though they have strayed away from the lost only to discover ourselves talking to each other. That is the nature of being born again into a large family.

We discover this family has an order based on maturity, gifts, purpose, and grace. It is difficult to find our place in such a large family. We seek to find out where we fit. Is it a matter of comfort? Is it a matter of seeking security? Is it a matter of discovering how and where we are needed?

Yesterday we spoke about discernment and that it is the perception of the Holy Spirit at work in others. It is this discernment that allows those that have come before us to seek out their replacements. Men and women with service gifts will most readily recognize when new disciples begin to demonstrate the traits of their own gifts.

Development in such a large family requires room to allow others to fit in where their gifts can be developed properly, training provided and a safe place to practice those gifts. Administrative planning should ensure that growth in Christ is not hindered by stagnant growth in churches within their responsibilities.

Some administrations seek to be seed churches, some administrations seek to build mega churches, some administrations seek to share resources in order to control likeminded administrations.

Malachi 3:16-18 English Standard Version

The Book of Remembrance

¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ¹⁷ “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Focus on verse 16 where we can see that what is written in the book of remembrances is based on conversation we have with one another. Verse 17 quickly identifies us as His. At the end of verse 17 is a notable comment about His treasured possession that is still in the process of being made in the sense of the future.

Is His treasured possession His bride?

Following that line of thinking then seeing the distinctions between the right and wrong could be defined as discernment.

Hebrews 5:14 English Standard Version (ESV) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews tells us that discernment has to be put into practice in order to be developed for the power of good. Training of discernment will produce maturity by making mistakes. Every error teaches us more and more about our gift of discernment.

1 Samuel 3:8 English Standard Version (ESV) And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.

Discernment is a perception of the spirit moving in others.