Knowing Is Not Enough

…don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. James 1:22 (NLT)

Props: regular or oversized bottle of medicine

A few months ago I started feeling tired.  So I went to the doctor and he gave me some vitamins to take.  I took the vitamins home and read the instructions.  The directions read: Take one tablet every day.  Simple enough, right?  So that night I took a vitamin.  The next night I got busy.  I didn’t take a vitamin.  The night after that I was too tired.  I went right to bed and didn’t take my vitamin.  On the fourth night I took a vitamin, but on the fifth night I watched a movie and forgot all about it.  Finally, a whole week had passed.  I had only taken two vitamins.  I was still just as tired as before.  I called the doctor and complained that I was still tired.  He asked, “Have you been taking your vitamins?”  When I told him about my week, he said, “The vitamins won’t do you any good in the bottle.  You have to take them to feel better!” 

You know what, he was right.  I wasn’t following the instructions.  I knew the instructions, but I kept coming up with excuses and didn’t do what I was supposed to.  That reminds me of today’s lesson: It’s not enough to know what the Bible says, you have to obey it!  Most of you know that the Bible says to obey your parents, but the important thing is to do what the Bible says and obey them!  You know the Bible says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but you have to make a choice to treat others with kindness and respect. 

Just like I had to finally make a choice and take my vitamins—no excuses—you must make a choice to obey the Bible!