What Are You Doing About What You Know?

What Are You Doing About What You Know?

BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 11, 2014

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“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”(John 13:17 NIV)

James says it is self-deception when we merely listen to God’s Word and don’t let it change us. We think that just gaining knowledge makes us spiritually mature, but the test of maturity is not knowledge. The test of maturity is character. A lot of people have great Bible knowledge, but they are spiritual midgets.

We need to put God’s Word into practice. We need to continually apply it in our lives.

In fact, knowledge increases responsibility. The more we know, the more we’re accountable for. Jesus said, “Much is required from the person to whom much is given” (Luke 12:48b GNT). What are you doing about what you know?

In Matthew 7, Jesus tells the story of the wise and the foolish builders. He says the foolish builder builds on sand. He is like the guy who hears the Word of God but doesn’t do what it says. The wise man builds on a solid foundation because he hears God’s Word and then goes out and makes an honest attempt to apply it in his life.

Jesus said in John 13:17, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (NIV). I think the simplest definition of maturity is to be a doer of the word. You do what the Bible says. We must not only read the Word; we must also heed the Word.

Every single one of us knows more spiritual truth than we’re putting into practice right now. We don’t need to know more; we already know enough. We just need to put into practice what we already know. Be a doer of the Word.         

Talk It Over

• What have you been doing with the knowledge you gain from a sermon or Bible study?
• What are some practices you can adopt and develop that will help you put God’s Word into practice?
• How is God using his Word to change your life?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNiOyMWMGXQ

Deep Waters

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out."
(Proverbs 20:5, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD:

You are equipped with everything you need to fulfill your passion and purpose in this life! Everything you need is on the inside of you—like deep waters. You draw those deep things out when you stay open and humble before the Lord. You draw those things out when you are submitted to His Word. That’s what makes you a person of understanding. Proverbs also tells us that a person of understanding delights in wisdom. A person of understanding is even-tempered. A person of understanding is not easily led astray and maintains peace and order. (Prov. 10:23; 15:21; 17:27; 28:2) 

Don’t just live on the surface of life today. Draw from the resources that God has placed on the inside of you. As you keep your heart open by obeying the Word of God, His purposes will become clearer; His provision will be more clearly seen. His direction for you will unfold so you can move forward confidently in the direction of your dreams!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to be successful in life. I choose to humbly submit to You and obey Your Word so that I can be a person of understanding. Thank You for revealing Your plans and purposes for me as go down into the deep waters in Jesus’ name. Amen.