Head knowledge only gets us so far…

The Information Age.

Never in our species’s history has any generation held access to as much information as we do.

And let’s be honest, obtaining information is not a problem in the Western world. If anything, our problem is an oversaturation of information (but that’s a topic for another day).

With all the information we possess you’d think change wouldn’t be an issue. Yet, every year, we encounter the same problem… how to improve.

Why?

The answer is simple: Information is only one part of the equation; change doesn’t come by it alone.

Theoretical versus experiential

Allow me to put it this way.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is His most famous collection of teachings, so famous that even those outside the Church hold to many of its morals…

Love your enemies (Matthew 5v43-48), don’t worry (Matthew 6v25-34), don’t judge (Matthew 7v1-6)...

Many of us know these are right but how many never worry or never judge or always love others?

Just because something is known theoretically doesn’t mean it’ll be known experientially. Change requires follow-through.

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

So what does this mean?

It doesn’t mean knowledge is bad. Simply knowing Jesus' words is an excellent place to start but it’s just that, a place to start, not a place to remain.

We need to become people who embody Christ’s words, who live that which we know to be true.

Jesus uses the helpful image of a tree bearing fruit (Matthew 7v15-23). We can think of knowledge as the seed of this tree. And, like any seed, it must be watered to bear fruit.

So a new question emerges.

How do we water the seed of knowledge?

The answer lies in what's been termed “spiritual formation”. And, lucky for us, spiritual formation just so happens to be our topic for tomorrow!

We’ll see you then.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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