Knowing isn't Enough

Knowing...isn't Enough
by David Brenneman

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.  Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:2-6.

Knowing what we ought to do and actually doing it aren't the same thing.

Realizing the importance that's to be an evident part of a life in Christ is on us to embrace.

We read in Romans of the transformation of us by the Spirit...is that happening in you?  Do you see evidences of that or evidences that the world is transforming you towards being more like it? 

One way or the other you ARE being transformed. 

You are the one to choose.  You see that's what came with the victory at the cross for Jesus Christ.  Choice. 

You choose to come to Christ for salvation or you don't.  Should you choose to come to Christ to be saved then it's on you to choose to obey the Word of God. 

Reading in Revelation to the letters to the Churches...realize the really really bad idea of being lukewarm.  Jesus pulls no punches...He absolutely does not like lukewarm people being that way. 

There's many things you can look at in your life to see where your allegiances lay.  Look at your wardrobe.  Look at your calendar.  Look at even just one day.  How much of it turned your attention to Jesus?  How much of it was spent in prayer?   How much of it was spent being in God's Word?   Look at what you accumulate in your home.  Mancave's and Shecave's are evident and mostly everywhere.  It's very easy to be swayed towards idolatry by only referring to it as something else and justifying that choice.

There's that word again.  Choice.

Long ago I had chosen many things to be in my life that I would say at that time that I loved.  I consumed what came out in books for it.  Even tried writing my own books about it.  Found various support groups online for it of like-minded people.  At the time it was enjoyable to say the least.  Yet it wasn't filling what my soul was needing.  In due time the Spirit brought conviction and I listened to that conviction.  There's that choosing again.  We CHOOSE to listen to the Spirit or we choose not to.  Word of advice...in reading your Bible...pay special attention to how well it went with those whom chose to listen to the Spirit rather than to dismiss the promptings of the Spirit.

In a recent sermon we were asked to consider what ticks us off.  To me there's a few more righteous things that can tick me off when I see them abused and there's many things of this world that also tick me off. 

For me...competitive sports is one of those things I had to choose to stay away from with regards to being a fan of any particular team.  Even today I might like a few teams but I will not follow them nor keep up with them.  Nor will I participate in anything to do with rivalries.   Why?  Because in choosing to do so it brings out not the fruits of the Spirit but rather the other bad fruits of sin in my life.  It also, to me, amounts to idolatry.   When we take anything that belongs to God and give it to anything or anyone else...the Bible says it's idolatry.  So in this too I choose to stay away from it. 

So there's a few examples from my own life of choices and choosing to do what's right in God's eyes vs doing what's right in my own eyes.

There's still others that I face each day.  So do you.  My Dear Reader...choose wisely. 

Scripture says that every careless word we utter we will give an account for before Jesus.  Do you think I WANT to have to explain why I was so irrationally negative towards another human being over something such as a team or a game?  Do you?  Think about it. 

Scripture says that our hearts are sifted through by Jesus all the time. 

What does He see in there?   Does He see a heart that is whole-heartedly following Him or does He see one that chooses to do what's right in your own eyes?

We do not come to Christ ONLY to get out of going to Hell.   It's not some get-out-of-jail free card.   We get to represent Jesus to those still trapped in this present darkness.  We get to be seen by the Father as having the righteousness of Jesus Christ rather than being seen in our own righteousness which is as filthy rags.  With what Jesus went through to save you...is holding on to anything in this world more important than to live out our lives in appreciation for all He's done for us really not that important to us?

Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves.  Peter did too I believe.

Atypically every year I go through whatever I've accumulated in the prior year and choose to sell or donate whatever I've not really used. 

We really should get in the habit of going through our thoughts and intentions as well as our possessions and get rid of whatever isn't going to glorify, uplift, shine a light on...the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. 

We have a life to live IN Christ for those who have indeed come to Him to be saved. 

We must still CHOOSE to do more than just know about it or know we ought to be doing it. 

We must do more than just know.

If you're not seeing or others can't see the character of Christ beginning to form in you...you really ought to consider whether or not you are saved or have but aren't living it out. 

Is He honored and glorified by what you do?  Is He honored or glorified by what you say?  Is He honored or glorified by what you're thinking?

Knowing isn't enough.  Jesus said we ought to be more than hearer's of the Word but doer's of the Word.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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