There are five physical senses: smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing. Neuropsychologists say thinking is the sixth sense.
Seventh Sense
Christians have been given a seventh sense: spiritual discernment.
“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
“The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (Romans 8:7).
We understand the world differently than non-believers.
Huh?
Have you ever talked with a friend about the Lord, and, even though your friend likes you and was listening, you’ve gotten a blank stare? Yep, me too.
We are to always be ready “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
While we are responsible to try, there may be no understanding, at least at that time.
And we shouldn’t be surprised. They don’t get it, and they can’t. It takes the seventh sense, spiritual discernment, to understand the things of God.
We must pray that our friends’ minds will be opened, “that that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ” (Acts 26:17-18).
Growth in the Seventh Sense
We train ourselves to use our sense of hearing in order to listen better. We train ourselves to notice, using our sense of sight. We learn to think better as we mature.
In the same way, while we, God’s children, have been given the seventh sense of spiritual discernment, our ability grows as we are taught through the word of God. We must hone our gift through increasing in the knowledge of God and practicing the truth.
“Teach me good discernment and knowledge” (Psalm 119:66)
What to do
1) Be grateful. You are saved by a gift of God. Your seventh sense, spiritual discernment, is a gift of God.
2) Don’t be surprised that non-believers do not understand. Pray for them.
3) Diligently study the Bible, pray, and practice walking according to the Spirit.
