On one occasion while Sir Henry Brackenbury (1837-1914) was a military attaché in Paris, he was talking with the distinguished French statesman Leon Gambetta. "In these days," said Gambetta, "there are only two things a soldier needs to know. He must know how to march, and he must know how to shoot!"

The Englishman quickly responded, "I beg your pardon, Excellency, but you have forgotten the most important thing of all!"

"What's that?" asked Gambetta.

Brackenbury replied, "He must know how to obey!"

This truth also applies to followers of Jesus Christ. It's not enough for us to know the facts about Christianity so that we can look like a soldier of Christ. What's most important is that we accept the Word of God by faith and then obey it (Jas. 1:22).

We should never be satisfied with only an intellectual awareness of how to live. We should not study the Scriptures merely to acquaint ourselves with knowledge about God. It takes more than know-how to please our Lord and Master--He expects obedience.

Put your knowledge into action. Submit to the supreme authority--Christ the Lord.  — Richard De Haan