Jan 08 2012

Exercising Our Senses Unto Discernment (1/8/12 PM)

Exercising Our Senses Unto Discernment (Heb. 5:14)

Just as our physical senses can be trained and made more alert, so our spiritual senses must be trained to discern good and evil.

Exercising Our Senses Unto Discernment (Heb. 5:14)

Just as our physical senses can be trained and made more alert, so our spiritual senses must be trained to discern good and evil.

  1. Sense of Taste – “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8) and gracious (1 Pet. 2:3). Desire “the sincere milk of the word” (1 Pet. 2:2) that we might mature and be able to digest the meat thereof (cf. Heb. 5:14). Appetite ought to be trained (1 Thess. 5:21-22; Matt. 5:6).
  2. Sense of Hearing – Tuned to hear that which God has revealed to us (Rom. 10:17). God begged the people to “hear, and your soul shall live” (Isa. 55:3); likewise Jesus spoke of those whose “ears are dull of hearing” but who could be converted and healed if they would “hear with their ears, and understand with their heart” (Matt. 13:15). Should be with the intent to understand/apply (Rev. 1:3; 2:7; James 1:22).
  3. Sense of Sight – One must also open their eyes to see (Matt. 13:15). Then he may “behold wonderous things out of [God’s] law” (Ps. 119:18) and have “the eyes of [his] understanding (heart/mind) be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). We can become nearsighted (2 Pet. 2:9); therefore we must control our eyes (Job 31:1; Phil. 4:8).
  4. Sense of Smell – Jesus had His delight in the fear of the Lord, literally “quick-scented in the fear of Jehovah” (Isa. 11:3). Our spiritual sense of smell should be aligned with that which God approves of (cf. Phil. 4:18; 2 Cor. 2:12-17). Our sacrifices then can come approved before God (1 Pet 2:2) because of Christ’s sweet-smelling sacrifice (Eph 5:2).
  5. Sense of Touch/Feeling – Have a soft touch, that is a tender/humble heart before God (2 Kings 22:19; Matt. 5:3-6; James 4:10). Otherwise we begin to grow calloused and loose our sense of touch (Eph. 4:17-19 contrast with Heb. 4:15). Also to one another (Phil. 2:2-5).

Are our sense exercised to discernment or fading though lack of use?