Knowledge by itself isn’t really worth a lot. I know a lot about football. But I never played past JV and my coaching career stalled out at Pop Warner. There’s a big difference between knowing a lot about something and having the ability to apply what you know.

If you read a recipe for French Souffle’, then you will know how to make French Souffle’. But that doesn’t mean you can do it. In order to do it, you will have to do the steps in the recipe.

You only really learn from doing the steps. Reading the recipe will tell you the right way to do it, but doing it wrong a few times will teach you why that’s the right way. My first steak in college was a charbroiled leather nightmare, but now I understand the importance of meat selection, and that no matter what your buddy says, A1 and Miller Lite is not a good marinade.

I can read the recipe in Matthew (5:44) and have the knowledge that Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. But when I put it into practice, I start to sound a lot like the Pharisee in Luke 18, thanking God for making me better than them. Apparently, I missed a step in the recipe. Let’s try again. After failing at it enough, I’m starting to realize it might just be easier to try not to have as many enemies in the first place.

Growth comes from trusting the Lord with all of our heart and leaning on His understanding instead of our own, in all of our ways. I trust the Lord, I lean on His understanding instead of my own. Sometimes. The rest of the time I spend learning why I should have.