Knowing and Loving

Carol Stoy came by my office yesterday with a watering can in one hand and a flower flat in the other. Carol is a lover of plants. When we were talking about the church's grounds, her own home, and other yards and gardens here, her eyes sparkled and it was so obvious to me that she not only knew a lot about plants - but she loved them.



My son Sean and I were talking guitars the other night while we were in our computer room at home. He was just sitting on the floor playing my old acoustic in a way its owner never could. I asked him about a particular type of guitar, and his voice lifted as he told me about the differences in the shapes of the necks, the pickups, and even the wood the guitar was made of. Pretty obvious he's got encyclopedic knowledge of guitars - and loves them.



Since I hang around churches a lot, pretty frequently I bump into people who really know the Bible. In conversation, they will bring up certain issues that fascinate them, and drop tons of references as to why this point couldn't be this way, or how this issue has to turn out that way. They get excited over their love for the Bible.



But sometimes..



Unlike Carol, whose love of plants and knowledge of them translates into care for them. And unlike Sean whose love of guitars and knowledge of them is shown by the music he plays with them.



Sometimes those who know the most about the Bible, live it the least.



How can that happen?



Because it's not about what - it's about Who. The Bible - the Word - is living.



In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make.

4 Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone.

John 1:2-4 (NLT)



If you love the Bible, know the Bible, but never translate it through your life into love for God - wholehearted, give Him everything love - and love for people - light for everyone...



Then you missed the point. It's not about what. It's always about Who.



Oh, and it's never about you.



Grace!



David Wilson



This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.