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One might even say it is counterproductive. The more we know what is best for us and the less we put it into practice, the more conflicted we become and we can build a habit of ignoring truth. This then leads to hearts becoming hardened. The purpose of the attainment of knowledge is that we learn to love God and others. |
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● 1: Scripture is compelling here. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:22-25) ● 2: A similar percentage of medical professionals have problems with substance abuse as the general population. Additionally, over 1/2 of them are overweight. They may have significant knowledge about how damaging what they are doing to their body is, but many do not apply that knowledge. Almost everyone knows that drinking plenty of water, not overeating, and getting some exercise makes us healthier. Some people get uncomfortable if someone reminds them of these truths. ● APPLYING THE PARALLELS: When truth is revealed to you, on a scale from 1-10, if 1 is shying away from it, 5 is ignoring it and 10 is fully applying it, where would you rate yourself? |
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● APPLICATION 1: Consider I Cor 8:1-3 and 1 Cor 13:2. What change in your thinking do you have if any when you consider that all the knowledge you have and seek to have is absolutely nothing, useless, unless you love, that you love God and love (do what is best for) others. ● APPLICATION 2: What areas of your life are you not applying truth? Read and consider the rest of the below passages. What change might there be in your perspective?
● APPLICATION
3: When truth is revealed to you, ask yourself what the meaning of
the truth is and how it applies to your life. |
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● Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. (I Cor 8:1-3) ● If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (I Cor 13:2) ● "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matt 7:24-27) ● He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." (Luke 11:28) ● Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins. (James 4:17) ● Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13) ● If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (1 John 1:6) |
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