Thursday, September 20, 2012

September 21, 2012

When you trusted Christ for salvation you received everything you need for godly living! Now you just need to keep your eye on the prize of spiritual maturity and be intense about living out what He has put in!
 
 
“Make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness, knowledge….”
 

According to, William Barclay, the original Greek word used for knowledgeis “gnosis” a practical knowledge, that knowledge which enables a man to decide rightly and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances of life.
 
A contemporary illustration of this knowledge are the replacement referees in the NFL. Because the regular officials that work for the League are striking for better wages or benefits or something. So, to counter the strike and prevent a delay in the start of the season, the NFL contracted with college officials to call the games.

 
Two weeks into the season there have been more bad calls than usual and therefore, more complaints and criticisms than normal.

 
What is the difference? It is football and they are football officials. They know the rules by heart and the rules are essentially the same. So why are they struggling?

 
The difference is experience with the speed of the game and the intensity of the play. The only way to adjust to it is to actually officiate some games at this level so they can learn to apply the rules of the game to the real time action of each play on the field. Knowing the rules is one thing but interpreting those rules while world-class athletes execute a play in a split second while millions of fans are watching around the nation is quite another thing!

 
No doubt, some of the officials will adjust their knowledge to the higher level of play and some will not.

 
That is "gnosis" - learning to apply what you know to the speed and complexities of daily life.
It is translating theoritical knowledge into godly decision-making.
 
 
If you are going to benefit from all the blessings God has bestowed upon you through His grace in Christ Jesus, you must learn to wisely apply His knowledge to righteous living in this world. That can only be done by getting in the game and gaining experience.
 
Know His wisdom until you show His wisdom by how you live!