“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).
Discernment is the ability to distinguish right from wrong, truth from error, and good from evil. Hebrews 5:14 tells us that godly discernment is a mark of spiritual maturity—it does not come automatically but must be developed through practice. So how do we grow in discernment, and why is it so crucial in our walk with Christ?
We live in a time of great deception. Biblical truth is constantly under attack, and many have embraced a false gospel. The dominant belief system today is syncretism—mixing and matching elements from different faiths under the false idea that all roads lead to God. This isn’t just a problem outside the Church but has crept into the thinking of many evangelicals. But everything that sounds good isn’t biblically sound.
Jesus said, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Jude also cautioned the early Church about ungodly individuals who had “crept in unnoticed” to distort the faith (Jude 4). The same danger exists today. This matters because what we believe shapes how we live.
The key to developing godly discernment is obedience. As we grow in our knowledge of Christ and submit to His will, we become more sensitive to truth and error. Spiritual maturity leads to sharper discernment because obedience aligns our hearts with God’s wisdom.
What dulls discernment? Spiritual apathy—getting too caught up in the wrong things. Remember, it wasn’t lawless and perverted things that occupied the attention of Noah’s generation; it was everyday life: “They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage” (Luke 17:27). The enemy still uses seemingly harmless distractions to keep us from heavenly priorities.
How discerning are you? Do you approach each day with wisdom and understanding, or do you rely on feelings and instincts? The only way to grow in discernment is through time in God’s Word and submission to the Holy Spirit. Train yourself in godliness, test everything against God’s Word, and stay alert to deception. In doing so, you will develop the godly discernment needed to stand firm in your faith.
