Just Do It!

&Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD. So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. Ezekiel 33:30-32 (NKJV)

Boy thats a mighty popular slogan, Just Do It! Great brand identification too. But better than branding is the advice we can glean from these three simple words. How many times could we have escaped hardships, pain, suffering, or embarrassment if wed only followed this advice and applied what we knew to be right instead of following a trend, a person, or the lust of our fleshly desires.

The Scripture above tells of a type of person who hears the Word of God, they listen to it, they like it, and even agree with it, only to walk away and not apply it. It is nothing more than Intellectual ascension. Thats exactly what the writer of Hebrews was speaking of in the following verse.

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV)

It didnt profit them anything to hear the Word of God, because the hearer didnt mix it with faith. In other words, they didnt put it into action. Its kind of like having this really cool tool, but you never use it. You believed in the concept of the tool, and it sounded great an all, but you never believed in it enough to actually put it to use. What good is it? Its of no value at all.

This isnt something that just happens to those who dont know Jesus as Lord either; it can happen to those Christians who are avid studiers of the Word of God. The problem is they can take all the time to study the Word, they can memorize it, and even recite it better than many people who are teachers and Pastors, but they dont apply it either.

Another temptation the devil uses on those who study often, is that they can get puffed up on the knowledge theyve learned. They can become arrogant with this knowledge and become prideful thinking they have somehow obtained some level of righteousness by simply having the knowledge. Unfortunately theyve lost the gift of love, compassion and grace somewhere along the way (See 1 Corinthians 13:1-8). They somehow have forgotten that God loved them just as they were when they were blowing it.

We need to keep watch that our head doesnt get so puffed up, that we disconnect from our heart. If this happens, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

You might even be saying right about now, Why is this? I thought it was good that we studied the Word of God daily.

It is good to study Gods Word, and to know it. In fact were told, every bit of this scripture has been given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable for setting the guidelines for our belief in the Lord. Its good for warning those who are not walking a righteous path. It is good for teaching people how to live in obedience, and coaching them through the tough times (See 2Timothy 3:16).

Studying the Word is essential for knowing the Lord, and knowing what He would want us to learn. Dont ever fear getting into studying the Word of God. Just dont get all caught up in self-righteousness when you learn something. Keep it simple. Apply it, be obedient to it, and share it in love with all whom the Lord lays upon your heart.

If youre not sharing the Word, or applying it, then youre just deceiving yourself by thinking youre Christ-like.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 (NKJV)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it perfectly when he said, Only he who believes is obedientand only he who is obedient believes.

Hey Christian, think of yourself as a garden hose. God provides the water, and He even brings everything into your life that needs watering. Just allow Him to flow the Water of the Word through you, and be blessed in the process.

STUDY QUESITON: What can we learn from the scriptures above with regards to hearing, studying, and knowing the Word?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you sharing everything that God is giving you through Bible studies, attending Church, reading the Word, as well as devotionals?

  APPLICATION: Remember your brain should be like a sponge. Dip it into the Water of the Word, and then apply it to your life, and share it with others. Repeat process daily.