Ezekiel was a popular preacher among the children of Israel. The people seemed to love to hear him give his prophecies. He had crowds of people who would assemble to hear him declare the Word of God. He never needed to worry if someone would be present to hear what the burden of God was upon his heart.

Yet God was not pleased with the people’s attendance. The people were coming to hear the Word of God as if they were going to a symphony or concert. Those who attend a performance go to observe the artist, to enjoy his melodious voice or his prowess at an instrument. Often those who go to such events will describe the emotional impact that the musician had upon him. Their emotions are stimulated as they watch and listen to him. But the people’s lives are never changed by listening to the musician. They leave as the same people even though their emotions had been stirred. This was the contention that God had with His people.

God would not be satisfied until the people of Israel turned their hearts to Him. In Isaiah 29:13, God said, “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me…” God wanted the people not only to hear the Word of God but to do it as well. Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

As children of God, it is important that we heed this lesson. It is not enough for us to attend church. We must do more than just “enjoy good preaching.” We must go beyond “I like hearing him preach.” We are becoming like Herod who heard John the Baptist gladly (Mk. 6:20), knowing he was a great man of God, but never heeded God’s Word. We have allowed ourselves to become satisfied with going to hear a good preacher, having our emotions stirred up, and leaving the same. Let us become both hearers and doers of God’s Word. As we attend our next service, let us ask God to reveal to us an area where we can better obey Him. This is worshipping God “in spirit and in truth.”

“Have I heard it for so long that He’s just another song?
Has the story lost its thrill that I once knew?
Lord, give me a burden that’s so strong,
That it will last when my tears are gone.
I’m tired of what I’ve been. Lord, make me over again.

I’m so tired of being stirred about the lost who need to hear.
I’m so tired of being stirred that His coming is so near;
I’m so tired of being stirred till I cry bitter tears.
I’m so tired of being stirred but not being changed.”

Stirred But Not Changed
By Lanny Wolfe
Listen to Song (Provided by FaithfortheFamily.com)