Putting Into Practice What You’ve Learned

4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Learning is never for its own sake.

There is a trap many Christians have fallen into. It is the trap of enjoying the process of learning about God and His ways, but never putting it all into practice. For some, learning is unpleasant and difficult. For others, it is enjoyable. But for those who find it enjoyable to learn about God, there is a temptation of letting it stop there. (Of course, those who don’t enjoy learning can also fall into the trap of not putting what they know into practice.) There is a temptation to think that learning is growing, that gaining information is the same thing as developing the mind of Christ.

But for many, the more they learn, the worse they are in terms of living it out. The more they learn, the harder their hearts toward others. The more they learn, the prouder they are, and the more judgmental. Knowledge can have the effect of puffing people up (1Cor.8:1).

It is possible to know enormous amounts of Christian truth and be far away from a life of self-denial, humility, love, purity and the joy of the Holy Spirit (and even true faith).

Learning about God is a marvelous thing. It is an amazing privilege to be given knowledge of our Maker and Redeemer. However, if that knowledge does not have the effect of transforming our lives, if it doesn’t change the way we handle people and possessions and problems, etc, then something has gone wrong. Paul says, "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, put these things into practice ." Christianity is not just something to know, it is something to do.

Praise God for all He has allowed us to know from His word. But let’s never let it stop there. Let’s put it into practice, that we might prove that Christ is powerful and real and wonderful.

Almighty Father, summon Your power. Burst through the crowded clutter of my sin and transform my life into a trophy of Your power and grace. Thank You for what You have revealed to me about Yourself, Lord. But help me not to hide behind this knowledge and excuse myself from living out the life of Christ. Help me to believe Your truth and obey it. May my life shine with the glory of the Light of the world.