Passive listeners beware

Albert Pike said, "We have all the light we need, we just need to put it into practice." We might think we need more of everything, including knowledge, but the sad truth is that many of us don't even use the knowledge we have been given! What is missing is the 'practice' behind that knowledge. God's Word reminds us, "So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror." (James 1:21-23 NLT) We must 'humbly accept' God's word into our lives, doing what it says - putting it into practice, not just gaining knowledge about what he says.

Therein is the rub - we read and read, but the words on the pages of the book just don't seem to draw us into choices that are any wiser or actions that are any closer to 'plumb' in our lives. We see the words, but they don't impact our lives with life. How can that be? It takes an open heart to respond to what we read. Too many times, we simply launch into the reading of his words and don't even ask God what he might have for us. We do it out of some form of 'religious obligation' more than responding to a special invitation to be present with him. True 'listeners' will actually hear and then respond. I can tell when someone has listened to me when I either hear their response or see their actions as a result of what they have heard. Just because they heard 'words' from my mouth doesn't mean their actions will reflect what I asked or said!

You might have heard the words, "Practice what you preach", but Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees as he said those words in Matthew 23. They were guilty of teaching truth, but their practice of it was far from what it should be. There was a definite disconnect. Could it be that we are guilty of the same? We know truth, having read it over and over again, but our 'practice' of that truth is just not there. What can we do to alter this 'disconnect' between our 'study' and our 'practice'? The most important thing we can do is ask God for his help. When we admit that we either aren't 'feeling it', he isn't put off by our admission of 'apathy' or 'disinterest'. He is thrilled that we actually realize there is a disconnect! He isn't going to chastise us for our disinterest - he will help us change our heart so that our actions also are changed.

Listen - then obey. Neither of these is passive. Both suggest an investment and a response. Listening will not always lead to obedience - especially when our hearts have not been prepared to receive his word. Maybe the first thing we can implement today is to actually ask God to open our hearts, settle our minds, and remove the distractions that so greatly impact our ability to actually 'hear'. When we begin our day this way, we are sure to 'hear' more clearly and 'respond' more readily - an open heart is never going to be left empty when we welcome Jesus into our day. He will fill it with more than we need. Jesus isn't looking for passive listeners. He is hoping for active participants in this exchange. Just sayin!