And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luke 6:46-48
It is possible to know what the Bible says without allowing it to change how we live. We can read Scripture, memorize verses, and even explain biblical principles to others, yet fail to put those truths into practice ourselves. God has given us His Word not merely to increase our knowledge, but to direct our lives. The difference between knowing God’s Word and obeying it is the difference between a house built on the sand and one founded upon a rock. It is not enough to admire the truth of God’s Word; we must build our lives upon it.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “I’ve read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the sixteenth century, attended a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That’s a serious-minded response to truth. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God.”
Every day we face decisions that are impacted by what the Bible teaches. We face temptations that we need God’s help to overcome. We face others who may have different ideas and opinions, and we need God’s wisdom to respond correctly. We face heartaches and tears that need God’s comfort. All of those things we so desperately need are found in His Word. We must be careful students, learning all we can about the Bible, but we must also be obedient to it. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
