So many people just don't seem to get it

So many people just don't seem to get it. Hearing about truth in Christ, and talking about truth in Christ, and being glad about truth in Christ is one thing. DOING the truth in Christ is quite another. James put it down just right when he said, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (Jas. 1:22-25). God's Spirit is not just leading us to receive the truth, it also leads us to DO it. And, "As many as are LED by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). Jesus left us with no uncertain knowledge about this malady of being hearers but not doers of God's word: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Mat. 7:21-27).

Jesus again described this same spiritual dilemma in another place with just a little different words: "Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away... But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended" (Mat. 13:5,6,20,21). Our love for God is not proven by what we SAY, or with how much joy or how loud we say it. The beloved apostle gave us some real-time understanding about what DOES demonstrate and prove our love for God and for his people: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous [hard to do]" (I Jn. 5:1,2). And again he spoke of these things in like manner: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (I Jn. 3:18,19). It's really simple: If we are applying true things that we are learning in God, then we are demonstrating that we love Jesus. If we are hearing and learning true things in God, and NOT applying them; then we need to make a reality check and get our spirits and minds lined up with God's Spirit and his mind. The Spirit of truth will teach us the mind of the Lord if that is what we want to know (Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13; I Cor. 2:12,13,16; I Jn. 2:27). It is up to us as to whether or not we are going to follow after these things in our lives, no matter the cost. And to be certain, the cost IS our lives, as Jesus clearly stated: "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Lk. 9:23). He gave his all for us, and we are required to do the same. Amen.