Knowing Is Only Half The Battle
Why Knowing God Must Lead to Obedience
It’s a phrase we’ve heard countless times: “Knowing is half the battle.” But for the believer, it’s more than just a motivational saying—it’s a sobering reality. Because the other half of the battle is often where we fall short: obedience.
We can know the Bible.
We can know the right thing to do.
We can even know who God is.
But if that knowledge never makes it from our head to our heart—and from our heart to our hands—we’re missing the point of knowing altogether.
The Call to Know
God has always desired that His people know Him—not just intellectually, but relationally.
“This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” — John 17:3
Knowing God isn’t about checking off doctrinal boxes. It’s about intimacy. Relationship. Communion. Walking with Him daily. Sitting at His feet like Mary in Luke 10, choosing to be with Him rather than getting lost in the busyness of doing for Him.
We were created to know Him deeply and to be with Him fully. But that knowledge comes with a responsibility.
The Cost of Not Obeying
Jesus didn’t leave it up to interpretation:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” — John 14:15
The great danger in our faith today is accumulated knowledge without surrendered obedience. We’ve become so familiar with the truth that we often lose the urgency to live it out. We mistake learning about God for living for God.
James calls this out clearly:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” — James 1:22
The deception isn’t in knowing the truth—it’s in thinking that’s enough.
Knowing Without Obeying Is Dangerous
Think of the Pharisees. No one knew Scripture better than they did. They memorized it. Taught it. Lived around it. Yet when Jesus stood in front of them, they didn’t recognize the Word made flesh.
They knew—but they did not obey.
They were close in knowledge, yet distant in relationship.
God doesn't want just informed followers. He wants transformed hearts.
Obedience Flows from Being With Him
Before Jesus ever called the disciples to preach, heal, or cast out demons, He called them to be with Him.
“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out…” — Mark 3:14
Being with God is the soil where obedience to God grows.
We obey best not out of duty or fear, but from intimacy. The more time we spend in His presence, the more clearly we hear His voice—and the more willing we are to follow it, no matter the cost.
The Battle Is Real
Yes—knowing is half the battle. But the other half is choosing to live out what we know, especially when it's hard.
We know we are called to purity—do we walk away from temptation?
We know we are called to forgive—do we release the bitterness?
We know we are called to serve—do we lay down our pride?
The real war is not in the knowing—it’s in the obeying.
So What Now?
Let’s not be content with simply knowing what God says.
Let’s be a people who know Him deeply, walk with Him daily, and obey Him completely—even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient, even when it hurts.
Because at the end of the day, Jesus said it plainly:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
To know Him is to follow Him.
And that’s more than half the battle.
