Doers or Consumers

I read a devotional by A. W. Tozer this morning. It should be required reading for all who claim to follow Christ.

Tozer referenced the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who was unimpressed with students who read extensively but applied nothing. In fact, he told them plainly:

“If you don’t intend to live like a philosopher, don’t come back.”

Tozer drew a parallel to professing Christians—those who claim they were once blind but now see. Yet he observed that even “the heathen in their blindness appear to have more light and wisdom than some children of God.”

I felt the sting of Tozer’s words. They were uncomfortable–just as he intended them.

It made me wonder—how different would Christianity look today if Jesus had said directly:

“If you don’t intend to be doers of the Word, don’t follow Me.”

As I meditate on this, I realized… He essentially did.

Both the Old and New Testaments make it clear that God expects application, not just awareness.

God told Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law day and night—and to do all that is written in it. James reminds us to be doers of the Word, not hearers only. And Jesus Himself said:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

The message is consistent.

Whether a student followed Epictetus or follows Jesus today, it’s not enough to consume information.

Knowledge alone is not transformation.

A Christian is called to be all-in—to live it, not just learn it. To be on fire. To be an ambassador of Christ who daily takes up the cross and follows Him.

Jesus deserves nothing less.

And He expects nothing less.

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“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (NKJV)