This statement should have caught your eye. And before explained, it should be given again, this time with more detail and truth.
“Knowledge is useless-if love for Jesus Christ is lacking.”
It burdens and sickens me to see Christians pursue knowledge over Jesus. For the most part, I do not think Christians knowingly choose between the two, but rather have forgotten why knowledge should even be pursued in the first place. I think it would be agreed among biblical scholars that the Apostle Paul was one of the most wise, knowledgeable brothers in the faith to ever live. We study the theology that Paul wrote to multiple churches, yet we neglect parts of his very teaching and lack living like Paul. Remember his very words were “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).”
We see also Peter warn us to not become useless or unfruitful IN the knowledge of the LORD. Instead we are to supplement our faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Peter 1:5-8). I am not at all saying knowledge is bad, quite the opposite. Notice how knowledge is in the list that Peter lays before us. But in our knowledge, we must bear good fruit in our lives to keep from being useless. We are commanded to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your MIND” (Matthew 22:37). In fact, we are told that this is the “greatest and most important commandment.” But, some have neglected the first part of that verse-”Love the LORD your God…”
By this time, I am sure someone reading this says in the depths of their heart, “I do love Jesus.” The questions begs to be answered, “do you?!” But what is the test of our love? What is the standard to see if we truly do love Jesus? He tells us in John 14:15 where He said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Why are the Christian Seminaries all across America not experiencing the most revival and seeing the Holy Spirit move the most if the whole purpose is to train up and disciple people for the ministry? If their sole purpose is to learn more about the bible and to understand scripture and to study and receive knowledge, why are we not hearing stories of moves of the LORD that could not be contained? Why are they not producing the most Spirit-filled believers and truth preachers of this day? Why are Seminary graduates not falling on their face asking the LORD to regenerate the hearts of everyone in their city and then going out and actively preaching like John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, Peter, Stephen, and others who truly sought out a knowledge and love for the LORD? Could it be that we have chosen knowledge of Jesus rather than knowledge and love IN Jesus? Here is how you know…
Do you keep His commands?
Do you strife for holiness?
Do you preach the truth about Jesus, sin, hell, wrath, justice, love and grace without shame, fear, hesitation, and uneasiness to a lost and dying world?
Does the knowledge you obtain cause you to weep all the more when you realize the grace that the LORD has shown on you or does it cause you to become proud and self-righteous?
Are you more proned to preach in the boldness of the LORD rather than cower back in fear by your weakness, forgetting that in our weakness He is made strong? (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Do you find yourself overwhelmed with love for fellow brothers and sisters, and do you actively show and speak about your love for them?
The truth is this…Satan has arguably more knowledge about Jesus, the bible, and truth than any person on earth. The only problem is that Satan hates Jesus. He does not love Him, therefore his knowledge is useless. Do not find yourself in the same category…Instead, seek to love Jesus while hungering for every detail of knowledge you can get your hands on.
Fear the LORD,
-Andrew Burkhart-
Posted by freejesus 
