Knowledge Without Obedience

[W]e can often forget that a knowledge of Scripture alone is not sufficient. Of course, James won’t let us forget that we must “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). This verse tells us that apart from obedience, knowledge can be deceptive. This puts an interesting twist on some of the favorite activities of good evangelical pastors: attending ministerial conferences, listening to sermons, and reading doctrinally sound books. All such activities afford us the opportunity for serious progress in personal godliness and ministry effectiveness. Yet each one can also be an instrument of progressive self-deception. 

. . . please understand: according to James, if you consume truth without applying truth, you risk the false and dangerous impression that spiritual growth was achieved without application. But it never is—never. We must be ever wary of the self-deception of which James speaks. Let’s recognize limitations of sound doctrine, and make the practice of truth a daily priority. Never stop watching your life.

—C. J. Mahaney, Preaching the Cross (Crossway, 2007), 120–121.

Two things strike me when considering the above. First, the importance of self examination in relationship to one's walk and second, the importance of community in living out an obedient life. We should regularly (daily?) examine ourselves to see if we are acting in disobedience to Almighty God. One method, which I have not done consistently as of yet, is to nightly review the day for disobedient acts or failures of omission with repentance and resolve to change. Community is necessary for accountability, love and spiritual fullness of growth. We cannot hold ourselves to the highest standard that God demands locked in our rooms reading books. The application of truth can only occur in a real sense in the arena of daily life surrounded by those God puts into our circle of influence.