Knowledge Puffs Up

"Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." - 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Do you know anyone who is "book smart" but has a difficult time communicating that knowledge into practical application in life? Knowing lots of facts, even facts about the Bible can be deceptive. You might come to think that what is important is the knowing, when the truth is, what is important is the doing. Loving God is an activity - a way of life - not an attitude.

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." - James 1:22-25

God has given us the Word so we might know how to live our lives in this world. He has given us the Spirit so we might understand spiritual truth. His expectation is that we will live by the faith and the power of the Spirit in us to do what He has made plain in His Word. But Christians who are hearers immediately forget what they have heard as they shift focus on the world to do the next thing. I wonder if I were to stand at the door as people leave a church service and ask what at least one point of the sermon was if many of the people could answer the question. What spiritual truth did you hear this morning? Other than, I don't remember exactly, but it was a good sermon. The man in the mirror.

"Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." - John 14:23-24

It is not that we will be perfect this side of heaven - but that we will strive to live the life that God has called us to live. It is about making the effort. Being intentional and disciplined. Being a Christian is not an attribute like your hair color or your occupation. It is about loving God more than anything else and loving others more than you love yourself. That starts in the heart and is manifested in how we live our lives day by day. So how is that going for you?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone