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For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33 The history of mankind can be thought of in terms of power. In the beginning of our history, we had manpower, the ability to do things for ourselves. Then, we had horsepower, the ability to use animals to do work for us. After that came machine power as we found the ability to make complex devices to accomplish difficult tasks. Each step in the development of power has enriched mankind, both financially and materially. And yet, while we’ve slowly learned how to exhibit control and power over the world around us, we’ve also learned each step of the way that there’s much more we don’t control than we realize. So what does this leave us? Well for one, we’re now in a place where we can firmly say we’re not in control of most things. Even when we take into account those things we do control, they pale in comparison to the number of things we don’t. Our only options then are either to surrender to chaos and believe whatever happens has no ultimate purpose, or we believe that God is ultimately in control and has a purpose for everything. But the Bible is clear – God works everything out for the good of those who love Him. Everything has a purpose. Don’t let the chaos of life distress you. Trust in the goodness of God and believe that in Christ, He’ll work everything out for your good! In the seeming chaos of life, trust God to use everything for your good and His glory.

Knowledge Is Not Enough

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
James 1:22–25

According to one study I saw, in 2015 Americans spent around $90 billion on gym memberships and exercise equipment. That staggering amount of money is roughly equal to the annual gross domestic product (GDP) of the entire country of Panama! Yet it doesn’t take a whole lot of looking around to realize that all that money being spent has not produced a nation filled with thin people. Likewise, the annual best seller lists always include plenty of diet books, but that has not produced a noticeable difference in the average weight of Americans. This is because knowing that there is a problem and reading about solutions does not produce a cure. The only thing that changes the result is a change in our behavior.
The same is true in our spiritual walk. Knowing more about what is in the Bible is a good thing. We should read and study and learn as much as we can about the precious book God has given to us. But knowing the Bible will not change us for the better. Information in the head does not produce a change in behavior. It is only when we begin to do something with the information that we have gained from the Scriptures that we begin to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Until we put into practice the truths that we know, we will never become more like Jesus.