KNOWING VS. DOING
"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."
John 13:17
Have you ever tried to lose weight? It is not a fun endeavor. Most everyone knows in order to lose weight you must do two things: diet and exercise. Simply knowing about diet and exercise doesn't produce weight loss, however. You must actually do the diet and exercise program to enjoy the desired results.
This same principle is true in the spiritual realm. Jesus said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). The blessing does not come from knowing, it comes from doing. In fact, if you know what to do and yet refuse to do it, the knowing will not serve to bless you; it will serve to depress you. It will become a constant reminder of your willful choice to disregard it. Someone once aptly said, "Impression without expression leads to depression." Are you blessed or depressed? It depends on the doing.
MARRIAGE CONFERENCE
Last weekend, Debbie and I led a Family Life Marriage Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We had a great time encouraging the 300 plus couples in attendance. At a conference break, one man said to me, "You know, you aren't really telling me things I didn't know. You are reminding me of things I'm not doing." Precisely.
I told the conference attendees that good marriages don't just happen because you read a marriage book and learn all the right answers. Good marriages happen when husbands and wives put action to their knowledge. Debbie and I know a lot about how to have a wonderful marriage, but unless we do what we know, our own marriage begins to drift from oneness to isolation.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
When it comes to the Christian life, how much of what you know do you actually put into practice? Perhaps you know a daily quiet time of prayer and Bible study is critical to spiritual growth. But do you have a daily quiet time? Perhaps you know "a gentle answers turns away wrath." But do you give a gentle answer to angry people? Perhaps you know "bad company corrupts good morals." But do you hang out with lug nuts? Perhaps you know that bitterness is a cancer of the soul. But do you hold on to hurts and an unforgiving heart?
Years ago I was introduced to these two important equations:
1. Information - Application = Information
2. Information + Application = Transformation
Listen, if you are tired of experiencing the same old you, if you are tired of missing out on the blessings of the Lord, start to do what He says. As you apply the truth to your life, you will experience the truth in your life. It is really not complicated. Jesus said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." Let me encourage you to begin today!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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