Knowing the Right Answer Is Not Enough

8 October 2026

Jonah knew who God was. When the sailors questioned him, he answered, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the Lord, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.” His theology was correct. His life was not. Mark makes the problem painfully clear: “Jonah’s got sound theology. True words spoken by a man standing on a ship, fleeing the God who made the very sea beneath his feet.” We can know the truth, explain the truth, and still refuse to obey the God of truth.

This is a warning for every Christian who has grown up in church. We know our Bibles. We understand the gospel. We can explain what God commands. But knowledge alone does not prove that we are walking faithfully with Him. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We deceive ourselves when we confuse knowing what is right with doing what is right. As Mark asks, “How often do we know the right answer yet do the wrong thing?”

Jonah’s rebellion also affected the people around him. The sailors faced a deadly storm while God’s prophet remained silent. Mark observes, “The sailors, with wrong theology, are afraid. The prophet, with right theology, is silent.” Think about that contrast. These men did not know the Lord as Jonah did, yet their fear drove them to seek answers. Jonah knew the Lord, yet his disobedience had brought him into this situation. Our beliefs should shape our conduct. They should change how we speak to our wives, how we treat our children, how we respond when we are wrong, and how we act when nobody is watching.

Take an honest look at your life today. Where do your beliefs and your behaviour disagree? Perhaps you know you should forgive, but you keep feeding resentment. Perhaps you know you should lead your family spiritually, but you keep postponing prayer and Bible reading. Perhaps you speak about grace but refuse to apologise. Do not settle for recognising the problem. Repent and obey. Your children need more than a father who knows the right answers. They need to see a man who humbly submits to God’s Word. Mark’s question deserves an honest answer: “How often do we know the right answer yet do the wrong thing?”

Father, forgive me for the times I have known Your truth but refused to obey. Make my life consistent with what I believe. Help me lead my family through humble repentance and faithful obedience. Amen.

Read the sermon notes here.

Watch the sermon here.

This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.