Live like Jesus: with discernment (Part 1)

 “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:6 (NLT)

Introduction

At the heart of the Christian faith lies a simple but profound calling: to live like Jesus. The Apostle John put it plainly: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NLT). That verse is both a comfort and a challenge. It reminds us that the way we live matters, and it calls us to measure our actions, decisions, and desires against the life and example of Christ.

But how do we live like Jesus in a world overflowing with conflicting ideas, competing philosophies, and temptations on every side? How do we stay anchored in truth when culture often celebrates what God forbids and mocks what God honours?

One essential answer is discern­ment. To live like Jesus is to cultivate spiritual discernment — the ability to separate truth from error, light from darkness, the eternal from the tem­porary. Jesus Himself was discerning in His earthly ministry, and He calls us to be the same. Without discernment, we risk drifting into compromise and mistaking the world’s counterfeits for God’s truth.

What is discernment?

To be discerning is to test everything we encounter by God’s Word. It means asking: “Is this true? Is this aligned with God’s perspective? Will this draw me closer to Him, or will it distance me from Him?”

Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV)

Discernment begins in the mind. When our thinking is shaped by Scrip­ture and the Spirit, we are able to recognise deception and stand firm in truth. By contrast, when our minds are shaped only by culture, we are easily swayed by popular opinion, passing trends, or empty philosophies.

Jesus Himself emphasised this balance in John 7:24:“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” (NIV)

Discernment, then, is not about being suspicious or overly critical. It is not cynicism or negativity. Rather, it is the ability to see with spiritual clarity — to recognise what is au­thentically right in God’s eyes.

Why discernment is necessary

The call to discernment is urgent because our world is filled with influences that can subtly shape our thoughts and values. Much of what passes for entertainment or education today is, in reality, an attempt to feed us a worldview. The songs we sing, the shows we watch, the conversations we join, all have the potential to shape our beliefs and actions.

Jesus warned His disciples: “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.” – Luke 11:35 (NLT)

That warning is sobering. We can easily mistake lies for truth if we are not grounded in God’s Word. Consider how often we find ourselves humming a tune with lyrics that contradict our values, or laughing at behaviors in movies that we would never accept in real life. What we casually take in becomes planted in our hearts, and eventually it bears fruit in our choices.

Discernment helps us recognise these dangers. It keeps us from being deceived by what looks attractive but is spiritually harmful. Proverbs 14:12 reminds us: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (NIV)

• Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author