Playing basketball was one of my favorite things to do when I was growing up. I would play in the mornings before school, in the afternoons after school, and in the evenings with the floodlights pointing toward the goal when things began to get dark. I guess you could say that basketball was my life. And when I say “my life” I’m not kidding. When my grandmother died, back in the mid 70’s, I was so upset with God that I went outside and shot basketball alone for hours trying to make sense of things. It was my way of handling the difficult situation. Did it help? Maybe…….maybe not.
When I got old enough, my parents, who must have seen NBA potential in my athletic ability, sent me to basketball camp at the University of South Carolina. It was a great week! I learned so much about the game and my own set of deficient skills. The teaching session on free throw shooting continues to stand out in my mind. They taught me the fundamentals of how to hold the ball, stand behind the line with my feet a little less than shoulder width apart, create a dribbling routine, aiming, shooting, and following through. I had it. I was a pro. I knew all the fundamentals. After all, they are “free” throws. That means that no one will block my shot. No one will guard me closely. They are free! It’s like getting free points. But, wait! There is one thing I left out. Can you guess what it is? PRACTICE. It’s not good enough to just know the fundamentals, understand the fundamentals, and embrace the fundamentals. Before it works for me, I have to actually apply and practice those fundamentals. The more I practice those fundamentals, the better chance I have of actually making the free throws.
It’s the same way with God’s truth. It’s not enough just to know, understand, and embrace God’s truth. We must also apply God’s truth. Applying God’s truth in our lives is evidence of real transformation. This application of God’s truth provides evidence to others of an authentic relationship with God by producing spiritual fruit.
First, we have to know God’s truth.
Knowing God’s truth means that we have to spend time reading God’s word. This discipline is very important because without exposure to God’s word, there is no way we will ever understand God’s will and purpose for our lives.
Second, we have to understand God’s truth.
Understanding God’s truth means that we have to spend time studying God’s word. Understanding is more than exposure. We can be exposed to something without completely understanding it. This second step is to dig deeper into God’s word. We just don’t read the stories, but we look for principles and ways to more deeply understand how those stories help us to understand God and his instruction for us better. Once we begin to understand God’s word, we can then move to the next step.
Third, we have to embrace God’s truth.
Use God’s word to shape our worldview. A worldview is like putting on glasses and seeing life through a special set of lenses. In this case, a biblical worldview sees life through a set of lenses that knowing and understanding God’s word. It works like this: once we know God’s truth and understand God’s truth, we are able to incorporate that understanding into our worldview.
Fourth, we have to apply God’s truth.
Applying God’s truth means we have to spend time living God’s word. Reading, studying, and embracing God’s word apart from applying God’s word simply makes you smarter, not spiritual. But, we must also understand that applying God’s truth doesn’t necessarily make us spiritual. Many people do right things while still living without spiritual regeneration. What makes us spiritual is the relationship we have with God through Christ. Remember, being good never gets anyone to heaven. It just gets us a slap on the back. It’s all about our faith in Christ. So, when I say apply God’s truth, we do so through regeneration and by following the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That’s the only way to produce spiritual fruit!
Are you living an authentic life for Christ?