PARABLE OF DISCERNMENT

“Lord, I want to do great and important things for You, not trivial things. I've heard it said that when hounds are trained for the hunt, they are trained not to be distracted by the frisky bunnies they would have fun chasing. They must concentrate on pursuing the big game. That's what I want to do for You, Lord--BIG things!”

“That’s a nice pious thought, My child. But you aren't a canine I am training, but a human person with free will to exercise discernment. Are you sure you can tell the difference between deer tasks and rabbit tasks?” asked LORD GOD.

“Sure. Everyone knows that deer have antlers and long, skinny legs to run fast; bunnies are small with long ears and they hop along the ground.”

“Wrong. Not all deer have antlers and both have long ears. I’m in the miracle business you know. I could even cause a rabbit to grow as large as a deer.”

“Something like Harvey, the man-size rabbit in the movie?”

“Perhaps. Let me remind you that a newborn fawn is smaller than an Australian jackrabbit,” He added.

“What are you getting at, Lord?”

“I’m trying to help you understand that big doesn’t necessarily mean important. I have divine priorities. I may not always want you to go after deer-size tasks for Me.”

“But wouldn’t it bring You more glory if I pursued big, important things for You?”

“Whose glory are you really thinking of?”

I was silent as I examined my motivation.

“If I want you to pursue something that you think is a rabbit-size task, don’t despise it. I reserve the right to assign your priorities. Don’t presume to know what service I want you to do in My Kingdom just because of the size of the task. Prominence in the eyes of men doesn't cut it for me.”

“I guess Your ways are higher than my ways, Lord.”

“You are beginning to see the light. I look upon maturity not as leaning independently on your own understanding but by your total dependence upon Me. That is the reverse of your world’s value system. That is My higher way.”

“That’s pretty heavy, Lord. It does sound upside down.”

“I may prepare you for deer hunting tasks by first training you in rabbit tasks. When you are faithful in the small things, in the least, I will commit larger things to you. On the other hand, I may want you to pursue a deer task even before you are experienced. I want us to have such a close relationship that you will ask Me each time what I want you to pursue.”

“So when I hear a rustle in the bushes, I should ask you whether I should go after it or not? And that it shouldn't matter to me whether it is a deer or a rabbit.”

“Finally! Now you get it!”

****

From THE RESOURCE BOOK

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean 

 on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make 

your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5, 6

“The Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes 

knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6

“For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, 

and He watches all his paths.”

Proverbs 5:21