By Francis Frangipane
We’ve stated that true spiritual discernment comes from knowing the mind of Christ. Let me make this quest as practical as possible: if we would know the thoughts of Christ, we should seek to know His motives, for thoughts exist to fulfill motives. Jesus Christ came into the world, “not . . . to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17 NAB). Thus, if we truly understand the love that motivated Jesus, we will increasingly hear and understand His thoughts.
Or consider Paul’s words, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9). The route to true knowledge and all discernment is to possess abounding love. Let us learn to rest our heads upon Christ’s breast and listen to His heart. For in hearing His heart, we can discern His love for those around us.
Yet I acknowledge that, for some, to love others as Christ has loved us remains an ideal too far to reach. Therefore let’s start small and bring this task closer to home. Rather than attempting to love everyone everywhere, let us reduce the challenge and make our aim to love just one person. Now I do not mean we should stop loving others whom we already love. I mean add just one person to your heart, and release your love to that individual in a more Christlike way.
This person may be a lost neighbor or a backslidden friend; he or she might be a sick acquaintance or an elderly person from church. The individual may be a child in physical or emotional pain. (I am not suggesting you focus on an individual of the opposite sex.) The Lord will lead you. He will put one person on your heart and give you grace to grow in love.
Come to this experiment without seeking to correct him or her, unless they themselves ask for advice. Pray daily for the person. And as you listen to the voice of God’s love, something inside you will flower and open naturally toward other realms of discernment. Inspired by God, impulses and ideas born of love will increase and expand to your other relationships as well. In truth, the knowledge and insights you gain from loving just one will become a natural catalyst in loving many.
Discernment will grow and mature even as you love just one.
The Voice of Love
Let me take our statements of faith further and make our quest for discernment as practical as possible. If we seek to know Christ’s motives we will soon perceive His thoughts, for thoughts exist to fulfill motives. Christ’s motive for coming to mankind is to reveal the Father’s love. If we obtain His motive, we will increasingly hear His thoughts.
Thus, as we seek true discernment, let us make our steps practical by turning our focus upon Christ’s love. Indeed, God’s Word tells us that “faith work[s] through love” (Gal. 5:6). Our discernment is made more sure as we rest our heads upon Christ’s breast and listen to His heart.
Yet I also acknowledge that, for some, to love as Christ has loved us remains an ideal too far to reach. Therefore let’s start small and bring this task close to home. Rather than attempting to love everyone, let us reduce our challenge and determine to love just one person. Now I do not mean stop loving family or those you already love. I mean add just one person and love that individual in a greater way.
This person may be a lost neighbor or a backslidden friend; he or she might be a sick acquaintance or an elderly person from church or a child in pain. The Lord will lead you and help you reduce your goal to genuinely loving just one soul.
Come to this experiment without seeking to correct him or her, unless they themselves ask for advice. Pray daily for the individual. And as you listen to the voice of God’s love, something inside you will flower and open naturally toward higher realms of discernment. Inspired by God, impulses and ideas born of love will increase in your relationship with others as well, and the knowledge and insights you gain from loving just one will become a natural part of your personality in loving many.
Yes, discernment will grow as you love just one.
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Adapted from Francis Frangipane’s ebook, Spiritual Discernment and the Mind of Christ, available at www.arrowbookstore.com.