Ezekiel 31-33, Psalm 146
Ezekiel 33:30-33 (NLT)
“Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’ So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it! But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them.”
In Ezekiel 33:30-33, the Lord tells Ezekiel that the people listened to his prophecies, but they did not obey them. The people talked about Ezekiel’s prophecies and believed that the words did come from the Lord. The people even said kind things about Ezekiel’s preaching, but it made no difference in their hearts. They failed to commit to making the changes in their lives that Father-God required. The Lord compared Ezekiel to a singer. He was very entertaining to the people, and they appreciated his preaching. Then the Lord said that when Ezekiel’s prophecies came true, the people would realize the consequences of ignoring the Lord’s messengers.
These verses remind believers that true faith means aligning our actions and our lives with what we believe. We cannot just hear Father-God’s words and find them entertaining, like listening to a singer. We cannot listen to the Word of the Lord superficially. We cannot live for ourselves; we need to live for the honor of Father-God.
I sometimes wonder if I am engaging with the Lord’s Word on an intellectual level only. When this happens, I stop and assess the areas of my life where my actions are not aligned with Father-God’s teachings. Am I letting the Lord’s words transform my life? Am I professing my faith with my mouth while my heart is far from the Lord? Am I pursuing the Lord’s will or my own interests?
This self-assessment is hard to do because you might not like what you find. I didn’t. There are parts of my life that are still not aligned with the Lord’s plan for my life. I am working on them, and I know that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, my faith will be demonstrated through my obedience and application of the Lord’s teachings in my life, and I won’t face the consequences of sin and disobedience.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who wants to transform your life through the application of His Word—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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