Knowledge vs. Love

I read "Girlfriends in God" devotions almost every morning! They send me a daily devotions to my email and this mornings devotions just spoke to my heart. The story in the devotional I had heard before. Mary Southerland explains Knowledge vs. Love so well though after the story. This is what she says:

Knowledge – for the sake of knowledge – is worthless and can easily lead to pride and arrogance. But knowledge for the sake of love is priceless. In other words, no one really cares how much you know until they know how much you really care.

Knowledge is powerful and should be used in love and love should always be controlled by knowledge. God gives us the ability to understand the Bible and then wants us to use its truths to build each other up and meet the needs of others.

A preacher once said, “Some Christians grow. Others just swell.” Arrogance and pride are the result of knowledge that is misused. Knowledge can be a weapon of destruction or a tool of construction. It all depends on how it is used. We can know doctrine and never know God. We can grow in Bible knowledge but not grow in grace. We can attend church every time the doors are open but until we actually apply God’s truth to the way we live, something is lost in the way we translate the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I heard the story of four Bible scholars who were arguing over the best translation of the Bible. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beautiful, eloquent old English. Another said he preferred the American Standard Bible for its literalism and accurate translation from the original text. A third man preferred the newer translations because of their practical application. The fourth scholar listened thoughtfully and then added, “Personally, I prefer my mother’s translation.” When the other men laughed, he explained, “My mother translates every page of the Bible into her daily life and it is the most convincing translation I have ever seen.”

I wonder. Do the people in my life better understand God because of the way I live? Is my life a living illustration of God’s love? Is the “Mary Southerland Translation” of the Bible authentic and real and pleasing to God? Lord, help me be Your Living Bible.

-Mary Southerland

God, I pray that I can gain knowledge in your Word but more than anything, I pray that I can LIVE OUT that knowledge! I pray I can show people you through the way I live: the things I say, the way I respond to tough situations, the way I treat people, the words I use...etc. I want people to look at me and my life and see you instantly! Help me to be a Christian that grows Lord, not a Christian that swells. I love you and I'm so thankful for your love and the example you set for us to follow! Help me to follow you... and only you. 

My Words

It seems God is showing me things on a daily basis. Sometimes I'm around to listen and hear those things and sometimes I'm not. Sometimes the busyness of life gets in the way and I chose to not carve out time for the Lord.

However, today is NOT one of those days. Today is a Monday and Mondays (if you know me, or anyone for that matter) are just "one of those days". I woke up this morning determined for Satan to NOT ruin my day just because it was Monday. Everything I do and say is a choice, MY choice. So, today I chose to spend time with the Lord and I pray I can make that choice every single day!

God has been showing me lately how important my words are! Words are so HUGE! Right? I mean, they have the power to either pick someone up or tear someone down. So many times, I choose to tear someone down! That sounds so horrible too because it's not like I even do intentionally. There are times when I choose words without even really thinking about it. It's like it's almost become a habit or maybe something that was learned over time and I just need to realize and be cognizant that it's wrong and hurtful.

One of my LIFE verses is Ephesians 4:29, which says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."This is one of my LIFE verses because it's something I struggle with.

Sometimes we can make the Bible more difficult than it actually is and I truly believe God made it for us so we would know what to do in every situation! So often though, we look to every other place but the Bible in helping us make choices! We look to our spouse or to our family or friends...etc. We ask God to show us a specific sign when sometimes, the answer is right there in front of us... all we have to do is read it.

Don't get me wrong, I think seeking wise council is good and Biblical and I do believe their are certain circumstances where prayer and advice are needed to make a choice!

I just think (and I am speaking to myself really) that sometimes we can tip-toe around a certain issue or decision when in the back of our minds, we clearly know what the Bible says and choose to make a decision that goes against what we know God wants.

"My" words can be so harsh sometimes! Ask my sweet husband who has always been so patient with me, even when I would have punched my own self in the face! However, I know it isn't something that I struggle with alone. I have witnessed on countless occasions how words can hurt. They can tear down and bring someone to tears. They don't bring happiness, I know that! Even to the ones who are doing the tearing down.... it doesn't bring happiness to them either. It makes them miserable and less joyful! It makes ME miserable and less joyful!

When I hurt someone that I love, to be honest with you, it makes me SO angry!  Sometimes I will realize I have crossed the line or said so many hurtful things... and instead of just starting over, apologizing or re-directing the conversation in a completely different tone, I decide to get angry with myself! In doing that, I get even more angry with the person I am conversing with! It doesn't help the situation!

God's word is so clear on this topic. There is no tip-toeing around it. He wants us to build up, not tear down! Bottle line.

So, I chose today to ask God to forgive me for those times where I failed in that area! And I chose to forget about those times and move on to better times and better situations where I will make the right choice instead of the wrong one.

God, I thank you for your Word! I thank you for the direction it gives me in life! You guide me in every way! I just pray that I will choose to listen to your guidance Lord, even if it doesn't come naturally to me! Forgive me for failing you! I am so thankful for your grace and mercy! I long to be like you and to treat people the way you treat them. I desire to speak to others in the way you would speak to them, even in difficult conversations! Most of all Lord, I just pray that you would shower me with your Love so that I can shower others with that same Love! You are so Good God! You are so faithful! I am so blessed to be able to have you as My Father!

My Value.

I used to have this warped view of how God wanted me to act or be! I always felt that he wanted me to change who I was and I never understood that! I kept thinking to myself... if God wanted to change who I was, why did he make me this way in the first place? It says in Jeremiah 1:5 that before we were in our Mother's womb, God "chose" us.

Being a stay at home mom, I sometimes doubt my worth and value. It's just one of those things I struggle with. I have to remind myself daily that I am valued by God and even others. It's a hard thing to fathom: God's love for me, that is.

But, I realized after reading a devotional recently and felt the Lord speak to my heart... that God doesn't want to change who I am. He made me with special talents, gifts and gave me a certain personality because he knew what I could do with those things. He sees the potential in me. So, instead of God wanting to change who I am, I truly believe he just wants me to get better at being ME.

To see the good in myself and better those good qualities! Not to change those qualities but to see that those qualities are gifts from God and to use them for HIS glory!

Thank you God for showing your love for me today and always. Help me to know my worth and value and that it is in YOU. You are life and without you, there is no life. Thank you for loving me the way you do and for teaching me so patiently.  -Amen.