When a church leader urged Christians to “do something” about the recent court case declaring the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, a gracEmail subscriber wrote me saying: “I haven’t been trained to discern righteousness; I’m not sure when I should act and when not to take up the battle. Is there a right stance to take on issues? How can we better discern God’s ways?”
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From time to time, God will give you opportunity to minister wisdom and discernment to others in the form of well-timed words which are spoken in humility and in love. As you pray and watch, he will let you know when such times are present. Then, in a way that serves his kingdom purposes and glorifies the Father himself, you can speak — often very few words, sometimes more — and God will speak through you to accomplish his purpose.
Some Christians do not realize it, but there is no cause for panic despite the shifting circumstances of life on earth. God is in no hurry and he is not threatened. He knows all the details of every event, including those that have not yet arisen. He knows how he has gifted each one of us, and how he intends to use us in his saving purpose. It is our privilege to watch and pray, to prepare ourselves, to abide in him, to abstain from whatever hinders the flow of his Spirit through our lives.
I am speaking ideally here, not that I always live up to these noble goals myself. As a believer in Jesus, you can begin by simply asking God to be your teacher. There is an old hymn which includes the prayer: “Spirit of God, my teacher be; showing the things of Christ to me.” You can depend on God to do just that.
