“Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. 2 Kings 22:19
Hearing someone is something easy to do, and everyone can do it. Responding to what a person hears is something different. With as much noise as is going on all around a person, most people do not respond to what they are hearing.
Everywhere a person goes, there are signs telling people to go the speed limit. Yet, many people do not even try to go the speed limit. Warnings are ignored as people do what they want to do.
They hear what is said, but do not respond to it.
Josiah had become king and followed God. He had the temple restored. In the process of the restoration, the book containing God’s word to the people was found. In it, he found out that they had not been following God, and God was going to curse and destroy them.
Immediately, Josiah tore his robe and began to weep. He realized what they had done was wrong and sought God’s forgiveness. God heard him and held back His anger against the people.
Every Sunday, people hear God’s word being preached, yet many do not respond to it. They think it was a good message…for the other guy…not for themselves. They do not change in any way. They continue to live in sinful ways outside of the church, ignoring what God’s word says.
It is easy to hear what God’s word says, but it takes effort to act upon it, to allow it to change one’s life.
God’s word is alive and active and can change you if you allow it. When you hear something God is speaking to you, make the necessary changes. Live according to God’s word.
As a believer, you are to live according to what God desires. If you hear what He is saying and are not doing it, you are disobeying God. Once you hear what He has to tell you, you are responsible to do it. Do not allow God’s word to go in one ear and out the other, and never change anything.
God is speaking…are you really listening?
I pray today that you will know what God is saying; that you will act upon God’s word to you; that the Holy Spirit will guide you in what God desires of you; and that God will give you strength to do His will.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
