Perception and Discretion

Perception and Discretion

Many opinions and viewpoints are all around us in this world. How can we separate out truth and fact and operate wisely in today’s information saturated society? How can we develop the ability to hear with understanding, speak prudently, and act appropriately in any situation?
Many sections in the book of Isaiah are Messianic in nature, with third-person revelations of Jesus Christ’s first coming or His second coming. In other cases, there are first-person accounts of Christ’s own words that were recorded for our benefit. Isaiah 50:4-5 is one such account which gives us insight into how our Savior dealt with the above issues.
Isaiah 50:4-5 states, “The Lord has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away”. Three attributes can be gleaned from this passage that we should consider. The three relate to (1) speaking with wisdom and discretion, (2) hearing with perception and discernment and (3) submitting our will to God’s will. All of these are spiritual and come from God through an active, constructive relationship as His disciples.
The first attribute gives us understanding, depending on the situation, as to what would be appropriate to say, when to say it, and how to say it, to people in and outside the Church. The second attribute provides a mental perception and discernment that allows us to hear with understanding. The wording implies a willingness and desire to listen and be instructed as a disciple. The first two attributes lead to the third which represents a frame of mind that willingly submits a person’s will to God’s, such that he/she is not rebellious or disobedient in carrying out God’s will.
The three combined teach us how to speak appropriately in any situation, have opened ears to hear with understanding, and a willingness to submit our will to God’s. These are practical instructions that we should consider and meditate upon. They were certainly important to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and were preserved for our benefit so that we might follow His example.