Ezra 2-3; Luke 8 

“’For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.’…He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s Word and put it into practice.’”

Luke 8:17, 18, 21

Listening to the Word is not enough. We must put the Word into practice in our lives each day. Jesus, the living Word, knows our heart and nothing is concealed from him. He knows how much or little of what we hear we are applying. Jesus’ family isn’t composed of people who have prayed a prayer to avoid the consequences for their sin. This is a family that chooses to stop sinning through the power of the Holy Spirit as they hear God’s Word and put it into practice. They actively join Jesus in his daily mission-assignments in their homes, community, and place of work. As we consider carefully how we listen and then obey, it will change our life and world.

“Lord Jesus, I will follow you in listening and obeying, for your glory.”