Hearing and Doing

What we have learned over the years of walking with Christ is that there is a big difference in talking and walking.  Most of us can talk a better game than we can walk.  Like the Apostle Paul we often know the right thing, but do not always get around to doing it.  "I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do."  (Romans 7:19)   Hearing and doing are often at opposite ends of the spectrum of our spiritual life.  And, while it is important to hear the Word God speaks, it is imperative to act on it, or what we have heard has no value.    

Early in Paul's letter to the Romans, he writes from God's perspective as he says, "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified."  (Romans 2:13)  It is not a strange word for anyone who has read the Scripture.  James wrote, "But be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves...faith without works is also dead."  (James 1:22, 2:26)   And, then in Matthew's gospel, we hear Jesus weighing in as He tells the parable of the two sons.  (Matthew 21:28-32)  The parable tells us it is better to say "no' and then go than it is to say "yes" and never get around to the doing.     

The life of faith to which we are called is not one which gives us the option of living in a bubble that makes life all about me.  We can know the Scripture from cover to cover, we can understand difficult theological truths, and we can have our name on the baptized list at church, but without a love that sends us out to give of ourselves in obedience to the call of Christ on our life, it amount to noise never heard.