“But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from the LORD.’ They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them” (Ezekiel 33:30-32).
Apparently, religious activity as entertainment is not a new problem. Ezekiel’s fellow exiles talked a good game. “Didn’t Ezekiel share a great lesson last week! Let’s go hear another word from the Lord!” As they gathered to hear him, perhaps they nodded in agreement and offered the occasional “Amen! Preach it, brother!” But when they returned home, it was business as usual. They “heard” God’s word but didn’t “do” anything about it. Or, worse yet, they “heard” the right thing but chose to continue to “do” wrong things. As the text says, they continued to “...do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.” Ezekiel’s prophetic word from God was just so much entertainment, like any other beautiful voice or accomplished instrumentalist. Enjoyable at the time, but not life-changing.
I pray that God helps me to hear AND do what He says. James says it this way: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves…But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22,25). May hearing the word of God never become merely another form of entertainment for me.
God loves you!
Mike
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