Devotionals: The Importance of Discernment-"the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. " Christianity.com

For many years I have heard the saying "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing".  The term has been use to represent someone who seems kind or nice, but deep down are wicked. I remember going home after school when I was younger and telling my grandma about an interaction with someone I had just met. "They SEEM nice"  she would say. Then there was my mom's response "Get to know them first Noe, be careful for wolves in sheep's clothing.” As I got older, I understood more and more what they  meant. I later learned that this saying was from the Bible and Jesus used this term to warn his disciples about false prophets.

In the book of Matthew 7:15 , Jesus says to his disciples 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."  Jesus used this parable (lesson), to warn his disciples of people who had an outward appearance of a sheep, but inwardly were wolves. Specifically , Prophets (someone who speaks for God). Jesus tells his disciples in verses 16 thru 20 that the way to discern false prophets was to recognize their fruit. Verse 20 says "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. "  

So what does the bible mean by good fruits?Galatians 5:22 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. So when we go back to Matthew 7:16-20 when Jesus tells his disciples to recognize someone's fruit,  what He means is to observe and to find out if what they say , do, and their actions align with Galatians 5:22. 

A similar scripture where Jesus warns the disciples about "False Prophets" is Matthew 24:23-24.The disciples ask Jesus about the signs of His return and the last days and Verse 23 says  "At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Verse 25 says " See, I have told you ahead of time."  

Though in the above mentioned scriptures Jesus is talking to His disciples, this word is also a message for us. Here on earth and in the days to come there will be many people in the world who pretend to be one way, but deep down, their hearts are another. This is why it is important that we watch, listen and observe the fruit of others, and most importantly , pray. If you are unsure about someone and whether they should be in your life or not ,ask God to open your eyes and to reveal the truth of that person's intentions. You may or may not get an answer right away; however, the more you seek His counsel and read the Bible, the stronger your gift of Discernment will be.  

Matthew 7:7-8  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

To learn more about Discernment, follow the link below:  https://www.christianity.com/theology/what-is-biblical-discernment-and-why-is-it-important-11532182.html

Be Encouraged,

Noelani