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

When you build your life on God’s Word, you develop a worldview that helps you live out his purposes. But with so many faulty worldviews around us, how can you stay focused on what really matters? How do you turn your creeds into deeds? How should your beliefs influence your behavior?  

In other words, how should you live? 

It’s a big question, but I have good news: God sent us a model for how to live in this world. He sent Jesus, the perfect model for living. The Bible says, “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6 NLT). 

Over the next few days, we’re going to look at specific character qualities Jesus modeled.

Today we’ll look at this first one: To live like Jesus means to live with discernment.

Being discerning means you check things out. When you encounter a new idea, you ask questions like, “Is this the truth? Is it God’s worldview, or is it just a passing fad?”

The Bible says in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (NLT). Followers of Jesus need to be discerning—to think about the kind of lives we’re living.

Jesus says it like this in The Message paraphrase: “Don’t be hypercritical; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right.” (John 7:24).

Jesus is telling his followers not to be cynics and skeptics—not to be the kind of people who focus on the worst. But at the same time Jesus wants his followers to use their heads—to think through things instead of being naïve.

For instance, have you ever found yourself singing lyrics that are the exact opposite of your values? Have you ever watched characters do things on TV that you would never do yourself? The world calls that entertainment, but it’s really somebody putting their worldview in your mind.

Jesus says to be discerning about what you allow in your mind: “Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness” (Luke 11:35 NLT).

As you go about your day to day, be discerning and “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT).