What to Measure?

Ezekiel 33-35, Revelation 18 

“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. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 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.”

Ezekiel 33:31, 32

This is probably how many pastors feel each week. Measuring how many people come to listen to our sermons is quite different than measuring whether our listeners put into practice what they are hearing. Listening to the Word is not enough. We must “obey all that Christ has commanded us” (Matthew 28:20). For those who regularly speak and preach the Word of God, these are humbling words God spoke to Ezekiel. We acknowledge that man looks at the outward appearance; but, the Lord looks at the heart. Just because people flatter us and give compliments doesn’t mean there is heart and life transformation going on. Those of us who listen to the Lord’s servants speaking the Word must humble ourselves before the living Word of God and choose to obey Jesus. We must look beyond the gifts of the messenger to the Lord himself and put into practice what we hear.

“Lord God, I will not merely listen to the Word and so deceive myself; but rather, I will do what it says, for your glory.”