Focus: Knowing And Doing

Text: Jh.13:17

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

Our text gives us two IFs. The first 'if' means 'since.' Since you know these things. It is not in doubt that you know things - certain things. Jesus Christ has revealed and demonstrated certain things for you to know. He has taught you a lot, and so, you know a lot. 

You know that Christ came from God and was going back to Him. You know that the Father has committed all things into His hands. You know that Christ is your Lord and teacher, and as your Lord, how He stooped to wash your feet, one by one, which was a demonstration of true greatness. Greatness is expressed through humble service. You know that the Lord Jesus Christ was humble at heart. There is so much that you know.

The next 'if' is the 'if' of probability and personal responsibility. In other words, your happiness depends on whether or not you do what you know. 

It is totally up to you whether or not you do what you know.

You are the decider of your own happiness. The word 'happy' means 'blessed.' The Greek word is makarios, and it is from this word that we get the word 'macro,' meaning large, big, many, or plenty. It is the opposite of 'micro,' meaning small or insignificant. The implication of this word is that the blessings of God are clustered. They function in bunches. They are many and belong together. One blessing connects you to another blessing. No blessing of God exists alone. Each blessing is linked to another and to another and to another. Makarios is the word used in the beatitudes. It is a blessedness. It is a state of existence. It has nothing to do with what happens or happenstance. 

You are in the state of blessedness when you do what you know - what you have learned from God in different ways, in different places, and at different times.

Also, it is important to know that these blessings are not only large, but also long, distant and far reaching. It is an all-encompassing blessings.

You are not blessed knowing, but blessed doing. If you do what you know, you are blessed. Someone has said that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. What are you doing to show that you really know something? Of all that you know, which one are you doing intentionally and habitually?

It is time for you to put your knowledge into action. There is no benefit in knowing without doing. What is the use of knowing so much and doing so little or nothing entirely? What shall it profit a man to know and not do?

Happiness naturally comes to those who do what they know. Knowing and doing belong together. True happiness or blessedness is the product of knowledge put into practice.

I pray that you know and do, and I pray that you experience the blessings of applied knowledge. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter