Summer is here. The pool is open. Memorial Day was celebrated recently. The kids are out of school for the next couple of months. All of that is good, but it presents my wife and I with a different rhythm of life and new opportunities. Every summer means more time with our kids and more chances to help them learn new skills and further develop others. This summer will be no different.
As my wife and I talked last night, we came up with number of skills to be intentional with our kids this summer. A primary that my wife will be working on is allow each child to practice some cleaning skills. Dusting, vacuuming, washing, moping, and more. A big one for me is giving my oldest son more and more practice on the lawnmower. And while we recognize the importance of each of these skills to developing our kids into fully functioning mature adults, there are other areas we want our kids to grow in. One of these major areas is discernment.
“True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.”
Sinclair Ferguson
Discernment seems to be a lacking skill in our world today. At the same time it is a more needed competency than ever before. Just think of how much information we must process everyday. Or the amount of data at our fingertips. We live in an information saturated, but discernment famished world. Discernment is a necessary requirement if one is to follow Jesus well. Nick Batzig does a good job showing not only why discernment is needed, but also the need for Discernment Without and Within.
I really appreciated how he pointed out there are two major ravines of lack of discernment we must avoid on the path of life. I think you will find it challenging and encouraging at the same time. What did you appreciate about Nick’s article? What questions or concerns did you have with it? I’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment below. As always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day.
Until Next Time…
Preacher on the Run... 
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