HOW TO KNOW YOU ARE WISE AND DISCERNING

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”

Hosea 14:9

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

If you were going to offer final words to close words of guidance and instruction to someone, what would those words be?

Today, as we finish our study of the Book of Hosea, a book named after one of God’s prophets who served Him prior to the Israelite exile to Babylon, we find closing words of direction as to how one can ensure they are wise and discerning. Through this direction, the Israelites, as well as us today, find a measuring point for how well we are doing when it comes to being properly knowledgeable when it comes to living the way the Lord desires, a way we can share with others.

Let’s look again at these words and receive God’s wisdom and instruction:

“Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”  Hosea 14:9

  

The message is simple, simple enough that it could fit in one verse.

For one to be considered wise, they must realize one very fundamental life principal.

For one to be recognized as discerning, they must understand the same fundamental life principal.

What was that principal?

“The ways of the Lord are right.”

That’s it. Seven words that say volumes.

When it comes to anything we do in life, there are any number of ways a person can choose but there is only one way that is right. Only one.

If a person is wise and discerning, they realize and understand this, making the Lord’s way their way every time. They are the righteous who live in all the right ways because they uncompromisingly follow the ways of the Lord, the perfectly righteous One. They never worry about which way they should go because they place their trust in the Lord who marks their steps and lays the pathways on which they are to walk. They never get off the beaten path but always tread on the straight and narrow.

Contrast this with those who choose to do their own thing, those who rebel against the Lord’s way and mark their own steps. Those steps will always lead a person off the path that the Lord has marked and when you get off His path, you will always find yourself stumbling and falling into sin and wickedness. For any way that is separate from the Lord’s way is nothing short of an evil way, a way that will only serve to draw you further from Him and closer to destruction.

So with all this, where do you stand today?

Are you wise and discerning by the definition of the word of God?

If your answer is “yes”, then continue to do what you’re doing, representing the Lord and His righteousness in all you do.

However, if your answer is “no” and you have found yourself having gotten off course in your life, know that today can be the first day in getting yourself back right with the Lord, a day when you can return to the ranks of the wise and discerning.

All you need to do is start walking in His ways for as the word of God tells us, they are right and the righteous walk in them.

Amen

In Christ,

Mark
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