Back to Basics: What is Your Responsibility when You Hear God's Word?
Embracing God's Word with Action, not just Knowledge!
In the Christian journey, there is perhaps no greater privilege than hearing the voice of God through His written Word. Yet this privilege carries with it profound responsibility. When our Heavenly Father speaks, those who have ears to hear must respond with more than passive acknowledgement—they must act. As James admonishes us: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22 KJV).
The Bible is not merely a collection of ancient texts; it is the living, breathing communication from our Heavenly Father to His children. When we open its pages, we enter into divine conversation. The question then becomes: How will we respond to what we hear?
The Weight of Hearing
Jesus often concluded His teachings with the phrase, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15 KJV). This was not a casual suggestion but an urgent call to spiritual attentiveness. True hearing involves more than the physical reception of sound waves; it requires the engagement of the heart and mind.
When Samuel was a young boy serving in the temple, he heard God's voice but did not recognise it until Eli instructed him to respond, "Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth" (1 Samuel 3:9 KJV). This marks the beginning of true spiritual hearing—a posture of receptive servanthood.
The prophet Isaiah experienced a similar moment of divine encounter: "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8 KJV). Isaiah's response demonstrates the proper reaction to God's Word—immediate willingness to obey.
Discovering Your Divine Calling
Each believer has been called according to God's purpose. As Paul writes to Timothy, God "hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace" (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV). This calling is not merely to salvation but to service—to a specific function within the body of Christ.
Discovering this calling requires spiritual sensitivity and practical discernment. David recognised his calling gradually, through his experiences as a shepherd, musician, warrior, and eventually king. Through each season, he learned to inquire of the Lord: "And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all" (1 Samuel 30:8 KJV).
Similarly, we must learn to discern God's guidance through prayer, Scripture, circumstances, and the confirmation of the body of believers. The Apostle Peter encourages us to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10 KJV), indicating that we have responsibility in confirming and establishing our divine purpose.
Walking Worthy of Your Calling
Once we have discerned our calling, we face the daily challenge of living in accordance with it. Paul beseeches believers to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1 KJV). This worthiness is not about personal merit but about appropriate response—living in a manner consistent with the high calling we have received.
Walking worthy requires character development. Paul continues his exhortation by identifying essential qualities: "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2-3 KJV). These character traits reflect Christ's own nature and enable effective service in His name.
Furthermore, walking worthy demands faithful stewardship of our spiritual gifts. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10 KJV). Each believer has received specific endowments from the Holy Spirit, not for personal advancement but for the edification of the entire body.
Overcoming Obstacles to Obedience
The path of obedience is rarely smooth. Even the Apostle Paul confessed, "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I" (Romans 7:15 KJV). This internal struggle between flesh and spirit is common to all believers as we seek to fulfil our calling.
External opposition also arises. Jesus warned His disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 KJV). The encouragement lies not in the absence of difficulty but in Christ's ultimate victory over every obstacle.
When facing discouragement in our calling, we can find strength in God's promises. Isaiah reminds us, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). Divine calling comes with divine enabling—God never calls without providing the necessary resources for fulfilment.
The Accountability of Knowledge
With spiritual knowledge comes heightened responsibility. Jesus taught, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48 KJV). As we grow in our understanding of God's Word, we become increasingly accountable for living according to that knowledge.
The letter to the Hebrews warns against neglecting what we have heard: "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip" (Hebrews 2:1 KJV). Spiritual truth must be treasured and applied, not merely acknowledged and forgotten.
From Hearers to Heralds
Ultimately, our responsibility extends beyond personal application to proclamation. The Great Commission commands us to "go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15 KJV). We are called not only to hear and heed but also to herald God's truth to others.
This proclamation happens through both word and deed. As Jesus instructed, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16 KJV). Our lives become living epistles, "known and read of all men" (2 Corinthians 3:2 KJV).
The Joy of Responsibility
While the responsibility of hearing God's Word may seem weighty, it is ultimately a source of profound joy. David exclaimed, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV).
As we faithfully discharge our responsibility to hear, apply, and proclaim God's Word, we experience the deep satisfaction of fulfilling our divine purpose. We can say with Paul near the end of his life, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV).
Let us therefore approach God's Word not as a burden but as a blessing—a sacred responsibility that leads to eternal reward. For when we stand before Christ, we long to hear those words of commendation: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21 KJV).
Key Takeaways:
- Hearing requires action: True engagement with God's Word means not just listening but obeying and applying what we hear, as James 1:22 KJV instructs.
- Spiritual attentiveness: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" calls us to engage with Scripture using both heart and mind.
- Discovering divine calling: Each believer has a specific purpose in God's kingdom that must be discerned through prayer, Scripture, and the confirmation of fellow believers.
- Walking worthy: We must align our character and conduct with our calling, demonstrating Christ-like qualities in our daily lives.
- Stewardship of gifts: We are responsible for using our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ, not for personal gain.
- Overcoming obstacles: The path of obedience includes both internal struggles and external opposition, but Christ's victory empowers us.
- Increased knowledge means increased responsibility: As we grow in understanding, we become more accountable for living according to that knowledge.
- From hearers to heralds: Our ultimate responsibility extends beyond personal application to proclaiming God's truth through our words and actions.
- Joy in responsibility: Fulfilling our divine purpose brings deep satisfaction and the hope of hearing "Well done, good and faithful servant."
