Bible Reading: Psalm 119:25-32
There are three reactions each one of us can have when hear a sermon.
We can ignore it, we can say, “That’s nice,” or we can eagerly accept what we hear and immediately look for practical ways to do what we’ve learned.
As Christians, we should never have the “ignore it” response to a sermon. When we ignore the message in a sermon, we are ignoring God. We are choosing to stunt our own spiritual growth. We are cheating ourselves out of spiritual nutrition and blessing.
When we choose to have the “That’s nice” reaction, we are saying, “Nice sermon, pastor. Now I’m going to go live my life as usual.” Christians should have this reaction to sermons either.
The third reaction is the reaction healthy, growing Christians should have to a sermon. Sermons are like food for our soul. Our reaction should be to say, “Hallelujah!” then go and live a “hallelujah” life. We should say, “Amen” (amen means “so be it”), then take responsibility for making what we’ve learned in the sermon a reality in our lives. We should say, “Good sermon, pastor!” then leave the church building saying to ourselves, “Now what? How am I going to live what I just learned? What changes do I need to make in my life?” In other words, we should be like the psalmist who wrote in verse 32 of today’s Bible reading: “I run in the path of your [God’s] commands, for you [God] have set my heart free.” We should be quick to do what we know God expects us to do.
Once we have identified how to put the lesson of the sermon into use in our lives, we should do it, while giving thanks to God for the sermon, the pastor who taught it, and the God from Whom it originated.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to always respond to sermons by using the message real, practical ways in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.