Just Listening or Really Doing

REFERENCE: Eze. 33:31-32 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. 32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it.

Observation: People can act as though they like what a prophet is saying, they can even be entertained by it--like by music or singing. The real issue is, will  they do what the prophet says?

Application/Confession:  For me as a pastor, I can be happy to have people seem to be interested in what I am teaching from God's Word. I can even be excited because they seem to be entertained by my presentation. The real issue is whether there is change--are they going to act on what I am presenting.

PRAYER: God help me. Don't let me be seduced by the voices that say, "I like what you have to say. It is so much fun to hear you talk." Lord help me, instead, to press for change in the way people live. May I not be satisfied until there is change in behaviour, not just demeanor. Even at the cost of offending some people some times.