1 Corinthians 8:1 tells us that, “Knowledge puffs up; but love edifies.” It is common in church for us to think that we are “mature” disciples based on our knowledge of God and the Bible. Let me be clear that the more we know about God and His word, the more we can be obedient to Him and His word. But there is a chasm of difference between knowledge and discipleship.
Knowledge makes it possible for me to be a mature follower of Christ; it does not garantee it. You and I need to be ever-learning, ever growing disciples. But we do not become more like Jesus until we behave more like Him. If we can quote the entire New Testament, but fail to love people the way Jesus did, we are not mature disciples. If we know when to stand, sit, and speak in church like a well-trained puppy, but we hold onto grudges, we are not mature disciples.
James 1:22, “But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” In other words: If we think that hearing and knowing the Word makes us disciples without doing the Word, we’re spiritually dillusional.
Let’s be doers of the Word this week.
Blessings,
John