By David ReayWednesday 31 Jul 2013LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Ezekiel 33:30-32
30 “As for you,son of man,your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses,saying to each other,’Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ 31 My people come to you,as they usually do,and sit before you to hear your words,but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love,but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed,to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well,for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. (NIV)
Many of us have had the experience of attending a conference at which the speaker inspired us. He or she spoke genuine truth and spoke it in such a way that was moving,eloquent and distinctive. We may also have had the experience of sadly realising that all that talk hadn’t made a whole lot of difference to our lives. The words were well spoken,we listened with gladness,but nothing much changed as a result.
This is the situation portrayed in this passage. It seems the people did come to hear Ezekiel. He had a bit of a reputation as an interesting speaker. But listening to him was like a spectator sport. It was a form of entertainment. Their ears were tickled but their hearts and minds and wills remain unmoved. They were all ears but no heart. They were self-absorbed,not interested in applying what the prophet said,but only eager for a bit of short-term uplift and perhaps support for their own selfish agendas.
We may read our challenging books,hear our inspirational speakers,even read our hopefully helpful daily reflections. But what difference is it making? Are we intent on being transformed or just teased? On being empowered to change or merely entertained? So many words spoken,so many sentences written,so many thoughts uttered,so many songs sung. May they not be mere momentary lifting of the spirits but rather the means by which our very lives are changed.
Blessings
David Reay