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It’s that time of year again, and the dog and I suited up to watch Clemson’s first game.

Clemson, as expected, beat Georgia Tech, 52 – 14, but despite what the score might indicate, Clemson looked ragged in spots. Coach Dabo Swinney said, “There were plenty of errors on all sides of the ball that will have to get fixed.” Speaking of the players, Dabo said,

We can give them some truth. They have to receive the truth, and we’ve got to get better.

That’ll preach, won’t it? It’s not enough to be told the truth and to listen to the truth. We have to receive the truth and then act on the truth. I wrote a few days ago that Herod enjoyed listening to John the Baptist, but there was no life-change.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8.31, 32, NIV)

If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? (John 8.46, NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)