MAY WE BE NOT HEARERS - BUT DOERS OF THE LAW. ROM 2 ; 13

The Word ‘hear’ occurs 78 times in the four gospels of our Lord Jesus. Hearing is one of our five God-given senses, and is a direct gift of our creator God. Because it is so important, the Lord often repeats the need to hear His word.

In that chapter of family life, Deuteronomy 6:3, we read the instruction ’ HEAR THE LAW- AND BE CAREFULTO DO IT.’ The LAW shows us GOD’S CHARACTER.

Our ear must be tuned to God‘s wave length, while we must respond to His instruction. Many hear the living word preached faithfully, but do not pay attention to its truth.

Bedlam follows where children disregard their parents ; how much more bewilderment in our own lives or the life of the church, when we do not follow God’s clear directives.

My short-wave receiver is finely tuned to HCJB Cunnamurra , Australia. Jolting the set will lose the clear signal, which brings God’s word to me nightly. Don’t let satan or circumstances jolt you from your sensitive, close fellowship with your risen Lord.

The truth flows in Deuteronomy 30:14, where we learn ’The word is very near you, in your mouth ( that is spoken and confirmed by all you say) -and in your heart.( the seat of the response ), so that ’You do it.’ The Name of the Lord should be on the tip of our tongues, to praise Him and commend Him to others. He must not be an after-thought. We should respond with our minds and hearts, so that we shall obey our Lord in each moral and spiritual action. So hearing, speech and spiritual activity follow.

Ezekiel continues the theme, when ‘I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments , which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ (20:11) Here we see how the statutes of God and a full life flow from observing them. The bible makes sense. For the Lord continued, ’I also gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between them and me; that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’ (v12) Sadly in the western world God’s Sabbath, (we keep the Sunday as the Lord’s Day ) is overlooked for sporting fixtures, social occasions, and cocktail parties among the elite. Our television programmes feature sporting events for most of this holy day. Oh, what a relief for those in busy lives, professional or artisan, who keep the Lord’s Day , Truly, worshipping the risen Lord.

In my family practice, the Lord released me from all consulting on His day, except for emergencies and hospital visiting. This allowed me to worship the dear Lord with my family, ; and continue with a Bible study for many years in our family lounge. Hallelujah! .

Ezekiel followed through in 33;31, ‘ So they come to you as people do, sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them’. ‘Then the Lord explained, ‘ With their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their gain.’ So prosperity drove them, rather than faithfully following the words of the Lord.

C T Studd was the captain of England’s Test team, leading the team to Australia. He trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord. . In his missionary zeal, he founded the Wec International missionary movement. Early one morning, he searched the scriptures with a candle light, having been stirred with Christ’s assertion, ’If you love Me, keep My commandment4s’. How many had he kept; How many more to obey? A determined man.

Are you surprised that this truth runs through the Old Testament as well as the New testament. What does our Lord say in Matthew 7:21?. ‘ Not everyone that says to Me, LORD, LORD, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He that does the will of My father in heaven.’ We may use the correct language, the precise ritual, we may genuflex ( bow the knee ) but our hearts may be rebellious. When we are truly related to Him as our Lord, then we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing these other things shall be added to us. ‘ As He said, ’ What a joy to do the father’s will, even as the 12 year old son of Mary and foster father Joseph spoke, ‘I must be about My father’s business ‘

He was God’s beloved Son. We must not repeat our prayers from rote but from hearts aflame with love and devotion. Our prayer will no more bounce from the ceiling, but will move the heart of the eternal Father.

John, in 10:27, wrote, ’My sheep hear My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life. They shall never perish, neither shall any one snatch them out of My hand. (v28) Precious truth; that comforts every generation of believers.

Did you observe that ’My sheep hear My voice - and they follow Me.’ They are faithful in following their Lord, Because they love Him, they obey Him. When we ’follow’ the Lord, we listen to His melodious voice, as He speaks such comforting truths. The Lord knows us. Following Him is the simple result of such a partnership with our beloved Saviour.

During my stay in Nazareth with our military hospital, I often wandered with the shepherds outside the city walls. When the shepherd called his sheep by name, they stopped grazing, and ran to the shepherd. When I called them by name. they were unresponsive. I was not their shepherd; nor did I know them; nor love them.

James 1:21-25 is a clear statement of this truth. ‘Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.’ God’s word must be grafted on, as living tissue in grafting a branch of the peach or apricot tree to another, or in a skin graft. Then life will flow in the graft, which has assumed its oneness with the former stock. The same principle applies in the understanding of God’s values.

One of the prized promises in God’s word is in Revelation 3:20, where HE says, ’Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and (amazingly ) he with ME. The Lord of Glory stands at the entrance to our lives, and patiently knocks to gain our attention. We must hear that gentle voice that has wooed millions to Himself. Our glad response is to open the door, humbly brokenly warmly - and allow the KING entrance. Don’t be a hearer, reluctant to allow the King full access to the throne of your heart. Oh, what blessing will follow!