Up to Interpretation?

“He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, “A shower is coming.” And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat,” and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:54-56

“And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.”  And in the morning, “It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.  An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’ So he left them and departed.” Matthew 16:1-4

“Jesus answered them, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.'” Matthew 22:29

“He will be the stability of your times,
    abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
    the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” Isaiah 33:6

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding.” Proverbs 3:17

Jesus was well aware of, and involved in crafting, man’s unique ability to discern. Man is uniquely fashioned with instincts and a mind that can intuit and distinguish facets of life around him. Jesus hones in on both ignorance and misuse of this gift, caused by limited knowledge and self-centered vision. As the disciples and crowds spent time in the nitty gritty of life with Jesus, He attempted to lift their spiritual eyes and expand their cognitive horizons.

We work, interact, and make plans and choices depending on the fraction of world we understand. We interpret life with the framework and information we have at hand, and often depend on previous knowledge either inherited or gained by experience. Jesus the infinite urges us to broaden, and deepen, any perspective limited by cultural boundaries and curated soundbites to the eternal and divine. He calls us to explore and know His living word so it becomes our lens of understanding all things.

We might avoid His word because of unfamiliarity or skepticism. We might resist it because we fear its exposure or conviction. Trusting second and third sources robs us of the insight and delight we garner from the Bible itself when we read it directly.

How are we honing spiritual discernment? How well do we actually think for ourselves based on God’s truth? When was the last time we related a passage of scripture to an everyday situation? How often do we turn off the noise of the world, even experts and ‘thought leaders,’ to steep ourselves in the Word of God and allow its potent truth to renew our minds and shape our insight and opinions? Are we dependent on how others spin current events, or can we recognize reality for what it is and implies by the Spirit ourselves? When I take a stand, does it mimic another person, or my Lord? (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:5; Colossians 3:2)

Father, keep me coming to for understanding of our times and wisdom to live.