do what it says

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says."

James 1:22

This morning my three year old didn't do what I asked, even though he clearly heard what I said. I called him over to me, and just as I was about to begin the disciplining process for not obeying, he said "Wait, Mom. We didn't talk about it."

The same is true in my relationship with God.

There are many things that God has asked me to do that I wanted to "talk about"
first—things such as sharing the gospel with my neighbors, humbling myself when
I have been wrong, caring for unlovable people, saying no to material things that easily entangle and distract me. I have delayed my obedience—or worse, I have said "no" outright, or I have just plain ignored His voice, hoping He wasn't really talking to me.

Perhaps this is why the writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95:7-8 three times in two chapters: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

God's people had hardened their hearts, gone their own way, rebelled, said no. I am one of them. I am deceived into thinking that just listening to, or being challenged by something means I have obeyed. It seems so radical when obedience actually costs me something. I am so content with easy, cheap obedience.

Thank You, Father God, that You speak to Your people, that You ask me to do hard, uncomfortable things for Your Name's sake and for my good, that I am able to hear Your voice at all. I do not deserve to hear Your voice. I have ignored it so many times. May I learn what obedience really is by keeping my eyes on Jesus, the One who sacrificed everything even when the cost was so high.

God, I pray that my hard heart would awake to Your Voice alone, that I would have ears to hear what You are saying to me, and that I would actually do what You tell me to do.