Discernment and the Holy Spirit

"Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth" (Prov. 17:24). The word 'before' in this verse means 'right in front of.' So what the verse is saying is that someone with wisdom sees what is in front of them, while the foolish are always looking for something far off that really isn't even there. What we're talking about here is that what is right in front of us is nothing but witnesses of God and his goodness everywhere. What is far off that doesn't really exist is nonsensical stuff that contradicts the evident reality that stares us all in the face every day. This was brought to me up close and personal by the holy Ghost earlier tonight when I was singing and playing an old Gospel hymn among brethren. For emphasis I'm going to copy the words of that song here:

Consider the lilies They don’t toil or spin But there’s not a king With more splendor than them Consider the sparrows They don’t plant nor sow But fed by the Master As he watches them grow

For we have a heavenly father above With eyes full of mercy And a heart full of love He really cares when Your head is bowed low Consider the lilies And then you will know

May I introduce you To this friend of mine He hangs out the stars And tells the sun when to shine He kisses the flowers Each morning with dew But He’s never too busy To care about you

For we have a heavenly father above With eyes full of mercy And a heart full of love He really cares when Your head is bowed low Consider the lilies And then you will know.

This song is so full of the reality of God's goodness that I can't even express it. I was so moved by the holy Ghost in my heart earlier while singing this song, that I literally had to cry my way through it. As I finished the song the holy Ghost put our text scripture verse in my heart, and it was like I was seeing the reality of God through the words of this song in something beyond blu-ray vision. It was holy Ghost vision to be exact. But this song embodies what God is all about in his heart. Yes, I'm well acquainted with the reality of the judgment and wrath of God, and I preach on those things quite a lot, mainly because too many folks are too unacquainted with those aspects of God. But God's severity is only known or manifested because of man's refusal to abide in God's GOODNESS. God is far more interested in kissing the flowers each morning with dew, than he is sending an earthquake upon a people for their ongoing, unrepentant sins. He would far rather feed the sparrows and watch them grow than to see someone fall away from his protection and provision, and into harm's way; because of their insistence upon continuing in evil things. He so much prefers to dress the lilies with a splendor beyond the glory of kings, than to allow a war to take place between nations. God's attention is drawn to one of his downhearted faithful ones much quicker and with more intent than a situation that is requiring his judgment on someone who is defiantly resisting what is good and right. That is very compelling, seeing that he misses nothing that requires his judgment, and does not delay when it is time to act in such manner.

Don't misunderstand me. I know that God is "the Judge of all the earth," and that it is "his judgments [that] are in all the earth" (Gen. 18:25; Psm. 105:7). And I know that the scripture says, "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day" (Psm. 7:11). But again I say that the only reason those elements of God have ever been exercised is because of sin and rebellion against abiding in the GOODNESS of God. What I am saying is that the core nature of God is sweetness, kindness, gentleness, caring, and the like. God's judgments against sin, and his chastening of his people who resist him, is to the intent of getting people back to abiding in the love and goodness of God. That is where he wants us because that is where his heart is at. The following passage makes my point clearly: "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" (Lam. 3:32,33). Everywhere we look at the creation around us where it is untouched by man, we see nothing but the love, and goodness, and wisdom, and care, and power of God. God has all power and all knowledge, yet the things that means the most to him are the most most simplistic of things that are available to each and every one of us every day. He cares so much about our being in one mind and one spirit with him in these things, that he sent his only begotten Son to suffer a cruel death in order to gain us back to a pure fellowship with him. Not only so, but what was the one 'new commandment' that Jesus gave us:? "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (Jn. 13:34). Sounds pretty simplistic, and pretty sweet to me. Amen.