“The question is not whether we say nice, polite, orthodox, enthusiastic things to or about Jesus; nor whether we hear his words, listening, studying, pondering and memorizing until our minds are stuffed with his teaching: but whether we do what we say and do what we know, in other words, whether the Lordship of Jesus which we profess is one of our life’s major realities.”
The above quote from John R. W. Stott was shared by David Banning on the last night of the Florida College Lectures, is probing, penetrating, and personal.
It speaks to the age old challenge that Jesus calls us not just to hear His Word, but to do it. To move from knowing to being. And to go beyond mere profession to actual practice.
We face this issue every time we open the Scriptures, attend a Bible class or hear a sermon. We will no doubt be confronted with this question today when we attend church service. It may from the subject in our class. Or a point made by the preacher. It even could be a familiar hymn as we sing the words “Who will follow Jesus?”
Everyone attends worship services today arrives from a different place on their spiritual journey. Varying degrees of spiritual maturity. Diverse challenges. And distinct needs. Yet, intellectual honesty and spiritual examination calls all of us to grapple with the pointed query of the heart–“Is my practice consistent with my profession?”
If there is a disconnect between what we say and what we do, may the words of Jesus echo in our ears and resound in our hearts: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Lk. 6:46).
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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