Solomon wrote inspired advice to his son. In Proverbs 4:20 the king said, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine heart to my sayings.” Solomon was commanding his son to pay close attention to the instruction he gave, with the intent that his son would obey his teaching. The attentiveness was not to be external, as in going through the motions; but internal, as in desiring the instruction with all of his heart.
When instruction sits in the mind, it becomes something we know. When we want it with our heart, it becomes something we fully receive. What we receive, we live. Wisdom is to enter into us deeply and change us.
The preaching of God’s Word is intended to change us, so that we live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. We must first hear the Word, and then we must be doers of the Word. That happens when we allow the Word, in particular passages, to change our thinking, our patterns, our affections, and our will; and we decide to obey it.
Watch out for the temptation to hear the Word, mull it over, agree with it, but then not do it. Desire with all of your being (mind, will, and emotions) to know and understand the Word of God; fully receive it and put into practice the specifics of what God’s Word says.
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