“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house built but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete” (Luke 6:46-49).
Howard Hendricks used to tell his students at Dallas Theological Seminary, “God doesn’t reveal himself to you to make you smarter sinners. God reveals God-self to you to transform you.”
It’s not about information. It’s all about application.
It is great that you are reading these Verse of the Day and interacting with God’s word on a daily basis. Studying and growing in your knowledge of God is a good thing. We cannot grow and mature as a Christian without growing in knowledge of God’s word. Faith grows where God’s word flows.
We grow in our faith as our knowledge of God and God’s word grows.
But there’s something critical for us as Western Christians to understand. The separation of knowledge from action is a Western philosophical concept. In Eastern and Middle Eastern thinking, there is no such thing as knowing something that doesn’t translate into doing something. Knowledge is doing.
Do you realize that Satan knows God’s word? Satan knows God’s word better than you, but he’s still Satan. He is still the father of lies. He is evil.
Knowledge without application is deadly. Knowing God better has to lead to applying God’s word better. Satan knows God’s word. But there is zero application of God’s truths.
A follower of Jesus Christ follows Jesus. That’s what being a Christian literally means. You do what Jesus does. You love what Jesus loves. You hate what Jesus hates. You follow Jesus.
Before we end, let me make clear that our deeds are in response to God’s grace and love. Our deeds do not save us. Only God’s grace can save us. But because we are saved by God’s grace, we respond with our obedience.
When it comes to knowing God, it’s not about information. It’s all about application.
Praxis: Faith in Action 