Discernment: A Pleasing Aroma
- Raymond Melendez
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
"At TheGoodNewsCast.com we believe that discernment is the 'pleasing aroma' of a sinless life. It is the vision of the wise that looks beyond the 'lines of the lies' that empower the heart and mind to flourish; it is an endless light that guides us toward eternal life."
In Leviticus chapters 6 and 10, in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, we discover how to present ourselves as a "pleasant aroma" before our Heavenly Father by being perfect as He also is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Jesus teaches that we ought to love our enemies by understanding those who are most "unlike" us. First, we need to love the Father and understand His ways, which surpass our own. Jesus is the Light that reveals Him to us so that we might love one another as He loves His own.
However, James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," believed that people often stray away from this perfect path. Madison walked with a deep understanding of human behavior and recognized that people can be greedy, selfish, and power-hungry. He noted that if people could be perfect, no government would be necessary. To safeguard us from our flawed nature and call to be perfect, he created a system of checks and balances (Rakove 44).
Ultimately, these two individuals convey a unified message: we should strive for a higher standard while approaching it with humility. While faith provides the foundation for loving our enemies, the law safeguards us by identifying the motives behind them, like greed and envy. Together, these individuals teach and protect us as we walk the perfect path, ensuring that both the heart and mind flourish.
Discernment: A Human Need
Discernment is more than just a keen sense of awareness; it is a vital necessity for those who wish to lead and stand in God's presence. Regardless of our location or position, without discernment we risk mistaking what is holy for what is defiled.
In the Book of Leviticus 10:1-2, we see the tragic cost of indiscrimination. Nadab and Abihu, despite being priests, could not recognize the impure from the pure as they offered "unauthorized fire" before God. Their lack of discernment led to their fall and served as a clear warning: without respect and an understanding of God's ways, we cannot stand at all.
In contrast, Eleanor Roosevelt provides a masterclass in how being proactive can make a difference in people's lives when she becomes the "eyes and ears" of the administration. She wanted to ensure that farmers, women, and African Americans benefit from the new laws implemented by the office, so she urged her husband to create policies that are more inclusive and equitable (Cook 155).
Ultimately, these three individuals teach us that discernment is a vital necessity; otherwise, we become blind to the injustices of our circumstances, leading to treating people unfairly. To be discerning, like Eleanor Roosevelt, is to know and understand the world around us, identifying what is fair and advocating for what is right. However, we must gain a clear understanding of humanity's true motives to effectively address the needs of those who differ from us.
The Vision of the Wise
True wisdom is rarely found in the rigidness of rules; however, the vision of the wise discerns between the lines of the lies. Whether standing in a holy sanctuary or the royal courts of Europe, the most effective way to lead is to recognize that some systems don't operate in plain sight, and what we don't know or understand might be the only thing that matters.
In the wake of tragedy, Eleazar and Ithamar demonstrated a profound ability to discern. While the community expected them to follow the standard ritual of eating the purification offering inside the sanctuary, they chose to do so outside to give their brothers a proper burial, which honored God and satisfied Moses. They understood that God's presence isn't limited to a sanctuary and that strict observance of rituals could be defiling, even discriminatory, if it resulted in treating outsiders differently. By asking, "Would God have approved?" Aaron and his sons were pointing out the distinction between an impure and a pure offering.
Similarly, Benjamin Franklin secured the future of a young nation by looking past the rigidity of political ideals to ensure fairness within international interests. He knew that the French had no interest in American democracy and were merely seeking to weaken their British rivals. By setting aside their differences, Franklin discerned the difference between the French and Americans and utilized it to win over a king and secure the alliance that won the Revolutionary War (Schiff 8).
These three individuals teach us that discernment brings light into dark systems, even within sacred spaces. Aaron’s sons recognized and honored God's holiness outside the sanctuary, while Franklin understood the French who were unlike the Americans.
Each individual truly walked with the vision of the wise, seeing purity outside the systems that were hidden from those within them. By recognizing the purity of the "outsider" or the blessings of an ally, we offer the pleasing aroma that honors the Heavenly Father.
The Sanctuary of the Mind: Truth Cannot Die
True discernment is the ability to recognize that God's holiness is not confined to a single system or people. The story of Eleazar and Ithamar shows that unclean things can be made clean, but it begins with discerning the difference. By offering their sacrifice of discernment, others saw what many were blind to; these brothers foreshadowed the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 12:6, demonstrating that the vision of the wise can find the presence of God anywhere. They offered a "pleasing aroma" because they truly had eyes to see.
This same clarity of vision is what characterized most impactful leaders in history, such as James Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Benjamin Franklin. These leaders looked beyond the systems of politics and misinformation to seek the glory between the lines and the lies. They were not easily swayed by the pressures of their day; instead, they remained patient and relied on God's holy nature. Their lives prove that whether one is standing before an altar or a legislative body, God's nature remains pure.
Today, this same discernment leads us to the ultimate victory of eternal life in Christ, a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, who saves us from the curse of spiritual blindness. Through the voice of truth, the light enters dark spaces and uncovers what genuinely honors God. Jesus has overcome the world, and so we are empowered to rise alive in Christ and walk unashamed in the everlasting light. His victory over the darkness is affirmed in the Book of Mormon:
"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death." Mosiah 16:9
Works Cited
Cook, Blanche Wiesen. Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 2: The Defining Years, 1933-1938. Viking, 1999. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/eleanor-roosevelt
Rakove, Jack N. Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.
Schiff, Stacy. A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America. Henry Holt, 2005. https://stacyschiff.com/a-great-improvisation.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIn%20December%2C%201776%20a%20small,eight%20years%20of%20his%20life.
