I wanted to share a good blog with you that I enjoyed. It’s the condensed version since my posts are usually about 500 words. I hope you are having a great week of learning more about God AND obeying based on what you are learning.

Reflection from www.hisnamenotmine.com
November 10th, 2010

I love to study Theology. I am always reading and keeping my eye on upcoming books. I love to read so much that my wife has to restrain me when I go into a Christian bookstore or go onto Amazon. Luckily I have found a way to curb my addiction to reading books by listening to some sermons on Podcast. Nothing delights me more than hearing an amazing sermon that moves me and challenges me. But in the midst of all this mass knowledge that I am devouring I am discovering something very troubling.

Discipleship isn’t about increasing your knowledge…it’s putting your knowledge into action. Somewhere along the way we have substituted obedience with mere knowledge. It has become enough to know the right stuff but never actually apply it.

But Jesus said, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings” (John 8:31). Not only that but he actually says obedience=love. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15).

So the question begs to be asked: are you obeying? If not then do you really love Jesus?

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.- James 1:22-25

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. -James 4:17

Do you realize the implications of these verses? They are a strong warning that it is not good to learn more unless you truly are going to apply what you discover. Our greatest need in the church today isn’t more knowledge. No the greatest need in the church today is Biblical discipleship- putting into action our knowledge.

So is your knowledge about Christ making you more like Christ?
•Do you love all people, especially your enemies, unconditionally like Jesus?
•Do you forgive like Jesus?
•Do you speak the Truth and correct like Jesus?
•Do you care for people like Jesus?
•Do you put others first like Jesus?
•Do you find joy in all circumstances like Jesus?
•Do you love God like Jesus?
•Do you rely on the Holy Spirit to bring glory to God like Jesus?
•Do you live a worry free life because you believe your Heavenly Father is in control like Jesus?