Application

     There are many ways to learn. There are many things we can know and be in the know about. Having scripture committed to memory is important. Having strong knowledge of what the word says is essential. The other major part of Christianity is applying God’s word to your life.

     It is always an intriguing moment when I hear a member of the body say “I don’t know if I agree with that” or something to that affect. What makes that even more intriguing is if something like this happens right after a solid sermon, gospel meeting, and or Bible class on this subject. What are they really saying? It is often hard to assess such a statement. How can you come to such a conclusion especially when we just spent a designated amount of time studying it? There are an endless amount of questions and thoughts that are brought up from such a biblically uneducated statement. The statement is not from the lack of learning, being able to hear, and understanding. It comes from the lack of willingness to apply it.

     They would rather surround themselves with teachers that say what they are willing to apply. (2 Tim. 4:3) This is the issue we are seeing today. Many are simply unwilling to take what God says and do it. Therefore, they seek out teachers, preachers, leadership and members that take their same stance. Perhaps those same people are willing to teach those stances as biblical truth. Isaiah said “Here am I send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) Joshua was told to do according to all that was in written in the law. (Joshua 1:7-8) These two examples are exactly the attitude and approach to God’s word God wants.

     Knowledge of the truth is one thing, application of the truth is another. I have heard of people “knowing” the Bible or having read the Bible through three times in a year without any application. If you do not want to obey what God wants no amount of Bible knowledge is going to help you. The word contains everything that pertains to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) If we apply it, we will have the life that God wants us too. If we use the word we can be trained to be more like Christ every day. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Heb. 5:14) We can successfully live and walk the way Christ did with the proper application of the truth.

     Let us not be the ones who have ears and are not willing to hear. We must be willing to take what Christ says and apply it to our lives. When it comes to being able to please God we cannot have the attitude that my mindset is more important than God’s word. We should be willing to hear and study any subject in Scripture and apply it to our lives. It does not matter what we personally may have previously thought about it. Knowledge of the truth is one thing, application of the truth is another. They must be married together in our life for us to be successful Christians. (Col. 3:16)