The longer I pastor, the more convinced I become that there is a LARGE gap between knowing and doing. People know the right thing to do - they just don't do it. It somehow is weaved into the frailty of our flesh. Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with this kind of thing. (See Romans 7:14-25)
After Jesus' discourse on the mount, He concluded with these words, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."" Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus knew that knowledge isn't our problem, action is our problem. I'm familiar with what God expects of me, and as a result I'm responsible to follow through and do what pleases Him; if I don't, then I have sinned against God. People are constantly doing what they know they shouldn't do, and as a result their lives are on sand and before long their life is in a shambles.
Wise people close the knowing/doing gap. Wise people act on that which they know that they should be doing. The wise man hears the words of Christ and then puts them into practice.
“Be doers of the word, not hearers only and therefore, deceive yourselves.” James 1:22
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