Day 242/365- Ezekiel 33:31

"Preacher Probs"

So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. (Ezekiel 33:31 NLT)

There are many fears in the life of a pastor. At least there are many fears in my life. I fear being unproductive in the kingdom of God. I fear doing something to disgrace the name of God. I fear misrepresenting the heart of God. But there is another fear & frustration that many pastors feel & it's what Ezekiel experienced here. And not only Ezekiel but also almost every man of God in the Bible, including Jesus, the Son of God. I fear that I will have a word from God, from the Word of God, & it will be clear, & it will be true, & it will be ignored. Not that people don't hear but they do not take action. They hear words but they do not live their lives differently.

I fear that week after week people come to our Sunday gathering & leave with little to no intention of ever obeying the word that they hear. In fact, a survey of social media can often confirm it! James says that when we do this, we are like people that look in the mirror, walk away, & subsequently forget what we look like. And so we must be not only hearers of the word but doers.

Not only this, but I think pastors can easily get frustrated when people don't do their sermons but do they do their sermons or others that they hear?

This week we were at a conference & we heard some great messages. One was on loving our neighbor from the Parable of the Good Samaritan. And then on the way home, I preceded to pass up an opportunity to show love to my neighbor.

This must not be! We must repent of this attitude. We must allow the word to penetrate our hearts & change our lives. We must not just hear the message but do it. We must not just read black ink on white paper, we must allow the word to change us & lead us to action!

Where have we listened only in the past & where is God calling us to action?