My mom owns one of these little Scotties and our family has a nickname for it: “Head With Legs.” It truly is an apt description. Every time I look at “Donnie” I have to smirk . . . or laugh.

Even with it’s huge cranium, though, the little rascal can run pretty fast—especially when she’s after a squirrel or chipmunk. As Donnie bounds across the lawn in hot pursuit, it appears that her legs are flying parallel to the ground while her head—regally erect—magically floats about a foot in the air.

Sometimes we can be like Donnie—like a Scottish terrier. Our heads can get so packed with knowledge and facts that it’s hard work just to keep it balanced on our shoulders. There’s all the school stuff we learn, but there’s also all the Bible stuff we know.

Now don’t get me wrong. It is wise and good to grow in knowledge of God and His Word. Joshua 1:8 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teach us clearly that we need to feed on Scripture. But we have to make sure our legs don’t become grossly undersized (like Donnie’s). If we simply keep packing in knowledge without loving others, we’re like a “resounding gong” (1 Corinthians 13:1). 

Love is action.

Check out your PDA or planner for this past week. How much study time do you have jotted down? How many hours for activities where you served or helped others—letting them see Christ in your actions?

You have legs so that you can go and show God’s love to others. Are they getting dwarfed by your brain and its knowledge? The sight of a Scottish terrier is amusing, but seeing a believer with a head full of knowledge and a wee amount of loving service is nothing to joke about. —TF

REFLECTION

• This is a time for study and learning. What percentage of time should I give to serving God? 
• How can I steer my friends toward living out their knowledge in Christ? 
• What is the difference between knowing God and knowing about God?