Ezekiel 33:31-32

"And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their hearts is set on their gain... for they hear what you say, but they will not do it." -Ezekiel 33:31-32

I stumbled upon this verse this morning while reading one of my books in school. I believe that it has profound impact in our church culture today. I know that the lessons are, for the most part, self-evident, but I'd like to briefly share some thoughts.

In the first part of the verse you get the picture of a people who beg to be spoken to from God's Word but have little interest in allowing it to change their hearts and lives. This reminds me of several passages:

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander of into myths." -2 Tim. 4:3-4

"...having an appearance of godliness, but denying its power..." -2 Tim. 3:5

"...always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." -2 Tim. 3:7

Citing Isaiah 6, Jesus says, "You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." -Mt. 13:14-15

All of these verses are describing a people who look EXACTLY as they should on the outside but TOTALLY MISS the point of God's Word. God did not give His Word to simply help us expand our pool of knowledge. He desires that it would cut deep into our hearts (see and SAVE US from our sin and ourselves. We think of salvation only in terms of heaven and hell, but the Word of God is given for our salvation TODAY.

And before you or I begin to point a finger to identify those we think fit this catagory, let us not miss the point ourselves. Every time we hear God's Word preached, read it, or recite it from memory it should challenge us and/or encourage us. It should AFFECT US. It should make us MOVE not just feel moved.

I see this all the time in the television preacher circuit. People who hoop and hollar and enjoy all kinds of antics in the name of preaching and worship. But they live lives of lust and hatred as soon as the service ends.

Let us not be found guilty of hearing the Word and not allowing it change us.

In Christ,
Andy